Queens Jewish Link

Friday, November 16: Light Candles: 4:18, Shabbos Ends: 5:19 Friday, November 23: Light Candles: 4:14, Shabbos Ends 5:15

Connecting the Queens Jewish Community Vol. 1 No. 21

Candle lighting sponsored by:

see our oers ex expiring Dec. 31 on inside back cover

Distributed every other week November 15, 2012 - 1 Kislev, 5773

Free

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity

Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah

SEE PAGE

26

How did election night fare for Queens Jews?

SEE PAGE

81

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66

Queens Hatzolah SEE PAGE

44

An interview with a Seasons insider

SEE PAGE

Saving lives in times of distaster and every day

70

Israel Unwrapped - Hidden Highlights Of The Holy Land

see our ad on page 14

new n o c lum SEE PAGE

40

see our ad on page 48-49

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 5

Yeshiva Madreigas HaAdam Cordially invites you to our Bar Mitzvah Dinner Celebration Join us as we pay tribute to our Rosh HaYeshiva

Moreinu Horav Moshe Faskowitz, tyhka

Rabbi & Mrs. Avi & Sarala Wasser Alumni of the Year

Mr. & Mrs. Ephraim & Elizabeth Yagudayev Young Leadership Award Horav Noach Oelbaum, tyhka Guest Speaker Tuesday, November 27, 2012 6:30 PM Electric Building, Kew Gardens Hills Dinner Chairman, Hon. Shlomo Mostofsky WWW.YMHAD.ORG

718-705-8803

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November 15, 2012

Puzzled about where to send your kids to camp?

Girls

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Grades 3-8 June 26-July 23 Daily Trips, 2 Awesome Overnights, Torah Environment, Sports Leagues, Rafting, Hershey Park, Baseball Games, Arcades...

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GIRLS Currently in Nursery - 4th Grade Activities Include: Sports, Art, Magic, Baking, Science, Music‌ Swim program in Large Indoor Pool Exciting Weekly Trips A/C Buses

New & Improved Location: YCQ Specializing in Preschool Summer Fun for 10 Years!

Boys/Girls born in 2008, 2009, 2010 Warm and Caring Morahs Busing and Extended Hours Available

Located in Kew Gardens Hills Rabbi Michael Merrill and Malkie Merrill: Directors Yonina Lermer: Girls Travel Head Counselor Shani Auerbach: Juniors Head Counselor

For more info: 718.755.1299

www.alhaderech.com

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November 15, 2012

Another Reason to Shop at Seasons!

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SeasonsNY.com 5

MESIVTA YESODEI YESHURUN Renowned Magnificent Record of Excellence new building • Warm and devoted Rebbeim - A new era who guide their talmidim to develop Torah personalities of Harbotzas • Ruach of Midos Tovos and Yiras HaTorah Shomayim • Challenging shiurim that provide hadracha in lomdus • Acclaimed secular studies department noted for its innovative curriculum and professional teaching staff • Integration with our Beis Medrash Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim

State-of-the-art classrooms, science and computer labs, spacious Bais Medrash, full size gymnasium and 95 dormitory beds.

Open House p.m.

Sunday, December 2, 2:30 NY

14151 71 AVE. KEW GA

RDENS HILLS,

Please call 718.261.4738 ns for information and directio

Harav Doniel Lander Harav Mordechai Krauss Roshei HaYeshiva

Harav Shmuel Gordon Menahel

Harav Mordechai Finkelman Mashgiach Ruchani

Dr. Charles Snow Dean of General Studies

Mr. Norman Fisher Principal

Mr. Chayim Herskowitz Associate Principal

Bas Mitzva DJ

by Atara 917.405.3152 6

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November 15, 2012

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PUBLISHED BY Queens Jewish Link, LLC MANAGING EDITOR Naftali Szrolovits SENIOR CONSULTANTS Eliezer Szrolovits Yaniv Meirov Cynthia Zalisky Helen Hoffman ADVERTISING MANAGER

Forecast FRI • NOV 16 49°

50°

38°

42°

Cloudy

Sunny

SUN • NOV 18

Yaakov Serle

MON • NOV 19

48°

46°

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

43°

Shimmy Feldman Simcha Lustig

Cloudy

44° Showers / Wind

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS R’ Yaakov Adler R’ David Algaze Esti Berkowitz Adina Brizel Alti Bukalov Shira Diamond Dr. Joe Frager Shira Frager Lorey Friedman Susie Garber Chaim Gold Feige Lloyd Gerald Harris Warren S. Hecht R’ Dovid Hoffman Eytan Kobre Risselle Naimark Gedaliah & Sarah Newcomb R’ Yehuda Oppenheimer Shmuel Sackett Mordy Serle Simcha Schonfeld Meira E. Schneider-Atik Mordechai Schmutter R’ Benzion Shafier Dr. Shmuel Shields Adina Soclof Howard Spielman Ariel Tavor R’ Dovid Winiarz Cynthia Zalisky Shelley Zeitlin

TUE • NOV 20

Design by Design2pro.com • Design & Production MICHAEL KUROV • Art Director

Your say . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Stories of greatness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 The shmuz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 A Shabbat thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Parsha insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Shabbos inbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Parenting simply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

48°

Never look back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

44°

43°

A healthy outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Showers

Showers

Branded for life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

THU • NOV 22

FRI • NOV 23

Dirshu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

52°

52°

This week in history. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

42°

39°

Shrinking it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly Cloudy

Blue and white . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

IMPORTANT NUMBERS Chaveirim — providing roadside assistance

Mikvah Israel/ KGH Mikvah, Flushing

718-441-0505

718-268-6500

Hatzolah

Toby Pelman Mikvah/ JCC of Hillcrest

718-387-1750 Chevra Kaddisha

718-969-4937

718-849-9700

Mikvah of Beth Israel of Spinka, Rego Park

Eruv Hotline (Forest Hills)

718-592-9786

718-544-6898 Eruv Hotline (Kew Gardens Hills)

Erna Lindenfeld Hachnossas Kallah Fund

718-591-9599

718-263-3921

Baby Equipment Gemach: Tzivia Dietch

Kol Halashon

718-275-5287

718-906-6400 Vaad HaRabonim of Queens

718-520-9060 Tomchei Shabbos

718-850-8070

718-897-9370

147-24 69th Road Flushing, New York 11367 QueensJewishLink@gmail.com 917.549.6145 www.QueensJewishLink.com

WED • NOV 21

Contents

48°

Cong. Mikvah Israel of Forest Hills

8

SAT • NOV 17

Mikvah of Queens/ Forest Hills Mikvah

Shaindel Ruchel Baby Food Gemach

Israel unwrapped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Frontlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Penning political . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Community corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Community calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Hatzolah feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Financially forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Feelin’ funny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 The fun side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Bedtime stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

347-416-3672

Business halacha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Table & Chair Gemach KGH

Hurricane Sandy feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

917-882-1414

As I see it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Modest Hospital Gown Gemach of Queens

The informed woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

917-859-8177 Queens Jewish Community Council

718-544-9033

718-261-6380

Avigdor’s Helping Hand

Kew Gardens Mikvah, Richmond Hill

718-568-9720 Chickens for Shabbos

718-849-0065

718-261-9723

To add to this list, please email your important numbers to QueensJewishLink@gmail.com 917.549.6145 • QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

THE QUEENS JEWISH LINK IS AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REFUSE SUBMISSIONS AND EDIT FOR CONTENT AND LENGTH. WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADVERTISING THAT IN OUR OPINION DOES NOT REFLECT THE STANDARDS OF THE NEWSPAPER. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED WITHIN, WHETHER BY PAID ADVERTISEMENT OR EDITORIAL CONTENT, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFL ECT THE VIEWS OF THIS NEWSPAPER. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KASHRUS OF ANY PRODUCT ADVERTISED IN THE QUEENS JEWISH LINK.

Please have all submissions in for next issue by Thursday, November 22nd. If we have not received your submission by then, we cannot guarantee placement.

November 15, 2012

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A United Community Mostly Spared

W

e, who live in the Kew Gardens Hills/Forest Hills area, were spared from the majority of Sandy’s destructive wrath. We must look at the effects of the storm and thank G-d for mostly sparing our community from the major devastation that occurred in other places not

Readers Write too far from us. The intent of this letter is not to put down the communities that were damaged, G-d forbid. It’s simply to point out one amazing thing that I see in our Queens community: the unity of its residents. Everyone simply gets along with one another. We should continue to be united, even in “normal� times, and that’s what I believe will save us from any destruction.

Y.M.

Sandy: Sending Us A Message?

W

e are all still reeling from the recent Hurricane Sandy, which shook the east coast and destroyed many, many homes and businesses. Even those who were not directly or materially affected were also shaken up. I have heard people say that those of us who were spared should feel like Noach. When Noach, who was a righteous person, came out of the ark, there was destruction all

10

around him. There was so much damage done and so much work to do. But Noach had a mission: he needed to rebuild the world. Yet Noach made a fatal mistake - the very ďŹ rst thing he did was plant a vineyard. Hashem put a special power into creation so that the rebuilding process would not take very long. On that day Noach planted, on that day he drank the wine, and on the same day he got drunk and was disgraced.

How did it all happen so fast? And what was Noach’s mistake?

Noach was given an incredible opportunity to build the world. Instead of focusing on the spiritual, however, Noach focused on the physical. We all read about Aisav in the parsha and are disgusted by his gluttonous behavior, thinking only about getting a good meal and completely scorning the spiritually important things in life. And yet how many of us can say that we don’t often do the same? How many of us look forward to Shabbos because we can eat lots of delicious food and get a nice long shluff? How many of us make spirituality our ďŹ rst priority and all the other stuff - like how we dress,

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what we eat and how much money we have - secondary? Maybe Hurricane Sandy came to blow some sense into our heads and remind us of what is truly important in life. Translated into

Hebrew, the word “sandy� is chol. The word chol also means mundane and physical. Maybe the message of Sandy is that we should try, as Yidden, to raise ourselves up above the physical. We are not here to eat and drink and enjoy the material pleasures of life; rather we are here to truly enjoy life by infusing the chol with kodesh. Let us not copy the actions of Aisav or even make the same mistake as Noach. Let us use this opportunity to repair the damage and rebuild what was destroyed by focusing on our spirituality and truly infusing holiness into the chol.

Raize Guttman

November 15, 2012

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November 15, 2012

Stories Of Greatness

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bout 60 years ago, a young enlisted man was stationed at a Florida army base. He was interested in books and whenever he had some free time, would make his way to the local library to peruse the shelves. It happened once, that upon removing a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The handwriting and content reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner’s name, a Ms. Hollis. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself, and expressed his appreciation of her comments. He invited her to correspond with him and provided his address. But his excitement quickly grinded to a halt as immediately after he posted his letter, the next day, in fact, he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the following year, although he was stationed in Europe and constantly on the move, the two began to correspond regularly and grew to know each other through the mail. The young man looked forward eagerly to these letters. He began to feel a kinship with his new pen-pal and believed in his heart that she did too. Perhaps, he thought, they were meant for each other and thoughts of marriage even entered his mind. He requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn’t matter what she looked like.

When the wonderful news came to him that he was to be shipped out back to the States, he wrote her once more and asked if it was okay for them to meet. She agreed and they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 p.m. at Grand Central Station in New York.

“You’ll recognize me,” she wrote, “by the red rose I’ll be wearing on my lapel.”

His excitement was palpable and even before 7:00 arrived he arrived at the station with great anticipation and trepidation, looking for the person whose heart he knew, but whose face he’d never seen.

As he stood there anxiously waiting, he noticed a young lady coming toward him. He followed her with his eyes anticipating that she was the Ms. Hollis that he came to know so well. She wore a pale green suit and he started to move toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. She walked right past him and as he took a step closer - he saw Ms. Hollis! She was standing off to the side looking somewhat bewildered. A woman well past 40, with graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, a bit on

by R’ Dovid Hoffman

Meeting Ms. Hollis the hefty side, with shabby, low-heeled shoes. It appeared as if she was unsure as to what she doing there. But there, pinned neatly on her coat was the red rose.

A look of torn indecision engulfed him. Was this the person that was truly meant for him? It didn›t seem likely that she was the one he had thought about for so long, while at war. On the other hand, he rationalized, her plump face was gentle and sensible; her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. He did not hesitate a minute longer. Walking right up to her, he straightened, saluted and held out the small, blue book

that had once belonged to her, all the while choking back his relative disappointment. “You must be Ms. Hollis.

I am so glad you could meet me; may I have the honor of taking you to dinner?”

The woman’s face broadened into a tolerant smile. “I don’t know what this

is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if a young soldier - you, I presume - were to ask me to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the restaurant across the street.

She said it was some kind of test!”

Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail Torahtavlin@yahoo.com

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November 15, 2012

TheShmuz on the Parsha

by R’ Benzion Shafier

Why Should Hashem Listen To Me? Hashem answered Yitzchak’s prayers and not Rikva’s The Immahos were all barren. Not simply incapable of having children — rather they lacked the very organs to necessary to conceive. Knowing this, Yitzchak and Rivka davened for a miracle. They each stood in their opposite corners, imploring, entreating, and begging Hashem to allow them to have a child. After 20 years of pleading, Hashem granted the miracle-- Rivka became pregnant.

However, the posuk says Hashem listened to his prayers. Rashi makes the observation that it was to his prayers that Hashem listened and not to hers. Rashi explains this is because Yitzchak was the son of a Tzadik, whereas Rivka was the daughter of a Rasha (wicked person).

Since there is no comparison between the prayers of a Tzadik, or the son of Tzadik to the prayers of a Rasha, or the son of a Rasha, Hashem listened to his prayers and not to hers.

Wasn’t Rivka greater because she overcame her upbringing?

Yet, we know that a person isn’t judged according to where he is now, but according to where he came from. The fact that Rivka came from “lowly stock” yet managed to overcome her upbringing is to her credit -- she is even greater because of it. In fact, just one posuk earlier we are told that Rivka was the daughter of Besuel, the sister of Lavan, from a city of devious people. Rashi there explains that the Torah is repeating her lineage to show to us how great she was: “Even though her father was wicked, even though her brother was wicked, and even though she came from a town of wicked people, she was righteous.” Exactly because she came from the house of wicked people and wasn’t negatively influenced, she was considered greater than had she been born into a house of holy people. Yet here we see that because she came from the house of wicked people, her prayers weren’t accepted.

Two systems of merit: who am I, who is my father The answer seems to be that there are two systems involved in weighing a person’s merits. The first system is based on the individual: Who am I, and what have I accomplished in this world? Based on where I started, based on the talents and abilities given to me, how far did I go?

How much did I change? That is the sys-

tem that is used to measure me when I leave this earth. Who am I now, compared to who I was when I started?

However, there is a second system that

Hashem for help and may say to ourselves, “Am I worthy? Do I have the right to ask, let alone expect Hashem to grant this request? Am I so great that Hashem

There may be many times when we think about approaching Hashem for help and may say to ourselves, “Am I worthy? Do I have the right to ask, let alone expect Hashem to grant this request? Am I so great that Hashem should change the course of events for me?”

comes into play when a person stands in front of Hashem during davening.

If a friend of the king petitions the king for mercy for his son, he doesn’t present his case based on the merit of his son – he asks the king to remember who he is. He asks the king to remember all the years of loyal service that he provided, and asks him to ignore the faults of his son and remember the love and devotion that he has proven to the king.

should change the course of events for me?” And the answer may well be no – our merit alone is not sufficient. Based on who we are, based on what we have

done, it may very well be that we have no right to expect these things from Hashem.

However, Chazal were very wise when they crafted our tefilos; they did so by invoking the merits of the Avos. When we make requests from Hashem, we begin by asking in the merit of Avrohom, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. As children of the Avos, we request that Hashem remember their righteousness and answer our requests in their merit, not our own. It may well be that we don’t merit health, wellbeing, and a livelihood, but we ask that in zchus of our forefathers that Hashem have mercy. Understanding this concept can help us relate to the unique power and effect that our tefilos can have, well above what we may be entitled to.

Born and bred in Kew Gardens Hills, R' Benzion Shafier joined the Choftez Chaim Yeshiva after high school. Shortly thereafter he got married and moved with his new family to Rochester, where he remained in for 12 years. R' Shafier then moved to Monsey, NY, where he was a Rebbe in the new Chofetz Chaim branch there for three years. Upon the Rosh Yeshiva's request, he stopped teaching to devote his time to running Tiferes Bnei Torah. R" Shafier, a happily married father of six children, currently resides in Monsey.

When the son of a Tzadik stands in front of Hashem So too, when the son of a Tzadik comes in front of Hashem, it may well be that his merit alone isn’t sufficient to change the judgment. It may well be that based on his merit alone, he doesn’t deserve whatever it is that he is requesting.

It is the merit of his father who stands for him that carries him far beyond his own arguments.

Rivka stood alone When Rivka stood in front of Hashem, she was a very holy woman, but as great as she was, her merit alone was not sufficient to bring forth the type of miracle needed. When Yitzchak stood in front of Hashem, he was effectively twice as tall as Rivka because it was his merit and the merit of his father that was working for him. It may well be that Rivka herself was greater because she had overcome the obstacles of her father’s house, but in terms of asking mercy from Hashem, she stood alone. Therefore, Hashem listened to Yitzchak’s prayer and not to Rivka’s.

What right do I have to expect Hashem to listen to me?

This concept has great relevance to our lives. There may be many times when we think about approaching

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November 15, 2012

A Shabbat Thought

by R’ David Algaze

The Origin Of Anti-Semitism

T

his envy a great hatred is born. It is not that they do not comprehend that G-d is with the Jews; it is rather that they resent that special relationship and want to destroy the Jew. Abimelech’s answer to Isaac is also very revealing. He justifies his desire for a covenant with Isaac saying that he has done to him “only good and sent you away in peace.” What is that “good” to

he whole incident with King Abimelech from Philistea raises interesting questions. Why does Abimelech come to make a covenant with Isaac after he had thrown the latter out of his realm? This is indeed Isaaac’s question to Abimelech: “Why have you come to me? You hate me and you drove me away from you!” (Beresheet 26: 27) As the Ramban (Nachmanides, 1194-1270) often remarks, we know that the stories in the Bible are intended to serve as lessons for the Jewish people throughout their history. This story is about the tragic phenomenon of the hatred of the Jew and its philosophical and psychological underpinnings. It is also a story that contains profound lessons for all times.

The story begins with Isaac arriving in the land of Gerar, the site of the Gush Katif in Gaza, as Isaac comes to take shelter from the famine. After a few years in which he has incredible financial success—as the Torah narrates that he reaped a hundredfold on what he sowed—and became a very rich man, the Philistines envied him. Abimelech then says to him, “Go away from us for you have become much mightier than we”(ibid. 16). As he travels away, hatred pursues him. People quarrel with him over the wells he dug and they stopped up the wells that Abraham had dug.

Their statement is reminiscent of the oftrepeated claim of the Gentile to the Jew: “The water is ours.” Nothing belongs to the Jew; he is always the stranger. However, all this dispute comes to a halt when the Philistines realize that Isaac’s success is unnatural and can only be attributed to Divine intervention: “We have seen that Hashem has indeed been with you.” This is an important signpost for later Jewish history: the non-Jew admires the success of the Jew and from

of the Jew is not his right; it is just a gift of the oppressor for which the Jew has to feel grateful. Whatever he possesses is not the fruit of his ingenuity and hard work; it is always the fruit of a crime of some sort or another. The Jew is unloved whether he is at leisure and does not work or whether he is industrious and successful. Isaac represents the Jew of all ages. He comes to Gerar penniless

Isaac represents the Jew of all ages. Even as a poor man he is hated and his life is threatened; when he succeeds he is equally reviled for his wealth.

This is the fate of the Jew throughout history

which Abimelech makes reference? Apparently, what he designates as “good” is just the fact that he did not kill him or sent him to a “concentration camp.”

They seized his land and property, took over his wells but they let him “leave in peace.” That was the extent of the much vaunted “good” of the Gentile nations and for this they demand recognition and reward. The Midrash (Beresheet Rabba, 64) brings a parable to illustrate this haughty attitude. A lion once got a bone caught in his throat. He shouted, “Whoever can remove the bone, let him come and take his reward.” A long-beaked bird appeared and removed the bone. As the bird came to claim the promised reward, the lion said, “Is it not enough that you came out from my throat alive and you still claim a reward?” That is Abimelech’s claim: Be satisfied that you came out of my realm, albeit dispossessed and disgraced, but alive, and for this you owe me gratitude.

The anti-Semite’s credo is that the life

and without possessions. Even as a poor man he is hated and his life is threatened; when he succeeds he is equally reviled for his wealth. This is the fate of the Jew throughout history.

The solution to anti-Semitism is also found in this parasha. Isaac’s reaction is a lesson for our condition when faced with intolerance and loathing. “He relocated from there…” Isaac leaves them and moves to his land, to the land of Israel. Ramban adds that as he moves into Eretz Israel, Isaac fears there too but Hashem reassures him, “Do not be afraid for I am with you.” G-d tells Isaac that in the land he will not have to be afraid and He even inspires in Abimelech great respect for Isaac. This is the reason he comes to make a pact with our Father.

Ramban is amazed at Isaac’s courage and his defiance of the Philistines. He

moves not far from Gerar, reopens the wells that had been stopped up by the enemies. He is not daunted by the Philistines’ might, and in a bold gesture, he restores the situation to the status quo ante, (Latin for, «the way things were before») against the will of the residents.

In this manner, Isaac demonstrates his ownership of the land and thus actualizes Hashem’s promise to Abraham that his seed will inherit the land. At first, the enemies quarrel with him but the well remains in his possession. In the second well, they also fight with him but the well stays in Isaac’s control. At the third well, however, there is no longer a fight. The enemies realize that Isaac will succeed and they grasp that they cannot abort his progress.

The Ohr Hachayim (R. Chayim ben Attar, 1696-1743) explains that this story of the wells is a test of Isaac’s fortitude. Hashem was exploring whether Isaac, who had been promised the land, would vacillate when faced with harsh opposition and implacable foes. Perhaps he would desist; perhaps he would resign himself and give up the promise.

However, Isaac was not deterred and he would neither concede defeat nor surrender. Despite the obstacles and the numerous challenges, he does not yield and he perseveres in the fulfillment of G-d’s promise to Abraham and his people. He heard G-d’s promise and he knew he had to inherit the land. Thus, Isaac serves as a model for later generations when, in attempting to inherit the land, will be faced with struggle and attacks. This is the lesson that he left for our times and all times.

Rabbi David Algaze is the founder and Rav of Havurat Yisrael, Forest Hills. He is a noted public speaker and author and is the President of the World Committee for the Land of Israel.

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Parsha Insights

by Adina Brizel

Parshas Toldos

M

any of the Meforshim struggle with the behavior of Yaakov Avinu in Parshas Toldos. On the one hand, Yaakov is referred to as an “ish tam yoshev ohalim.” Rashi explains that this is referring to Yaakov’s natural characteristic of Emes, or being truthful. Yaakov was never a hypocrite or two-faced.

Rashi continues to explain that when Yaakov is described as yoshev ohalim, these tents are referring to the tents of Shem and Ever, in whose “beis midrash” Yaakov could be found. On the other hand, as the parshah progresses, Yaakov is forced to impersonate Esav in dress and speech before his blind father. Did Yaakov Avinu, the paragon of Emes, lie to his father?

One view is that of Rashi, who suggests that Yaakov Avinu did not lie to his father at all. When he introduced himself, he said “It is I (and Esav is your firstborn”). He never identified himself as Esav, rather letting Yitzchak draw his own conclusions from his speech and clothing. Additionally, Rashi comments that one of the reasons Yitzchak was

18

blind was in order to enable Yaakov to get the Brachos. Therefore, Yaakov did not do anything wrong in fulfilling his mission to be blessed with the special Brachos.

In contrast, the Ibn Ezra raises the issue of how could a Navi as great as Yaakov Avinu tell a lie by saying that he is Esav. The answer, he suggests, is that a Navi’s speech is divided into two tracks.

When a Navi is assigned to teach B’nei Yisrael Torah or about a mitzvah, he is forbidden to lie. However, if the Navi is sent to bring prophecies of the future and he needs to say something that is seemingly untrue, it does not label the Navi as being a navi sheker, a false prophet. Therefore, due to Yaakov’s acquiring a nevuah, a prophecy, for the future, he is permitted to say something untrue.

A third approach comes from the N’tziv. He too identifies Yaakov Avinu as a man of Emes, and his nature, therefore, is to be always truthful. However, when the time came to receive the Brachos from his father, he was still nervous

to behave in an unnatural way. He knew that following his mother’s instructions was the right thing to do, but he worried that he would give himself away. When Rivkah sends him to get goats for a meal, she is, at the same time, sending him advice. Two goats provide a very large amount of meat, far more than what one old man could eat. Yet Chazal explain that this story took place on Yom Kippur, and these two goats represented two goats, one designated for Hashem and one designated for Azazel.

The N’tziv explains that Rivkah is telling Yaakov that we often have negative traits, as represented by the goats. Just as Hashem created this world with positive traits, He created this world with negative ones as well. We are urged to avoid the negative traits, which can lead to our spiritual destruction. However, there may come times when they must be used for holy purposes, “for Hashem.”

Yet at the same time, they are still negative traits, which must be discarded “LaAzazel.” Therefore, all of us should know

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how to “use all of our tools” and should not enjoy “too much” the fact that at times we must do something “wrong,” even for a positive purpose. Therefore, Yaakov Avinu is punished when Esav cries out in pain upon learning of the deception, as Yaakov enjoyed “a little too much” hearing Esav suffer.

Therefore, when one examines the situation of Yaakov receiving the Brachos, we learn that it is not so simple.

We learn about the multi-hued world of Neviim and how Nevuah changes per prophecy. The N’tziv also teaches us a powerful lesson in Midos. When Orchos Tzadikim decries most negative midos, it also explains when there are proper times in which these midos can be used as well, in limited quantities. Yet at the same time, one must always be aware that, in the end, they are still negative, and this does not give us free rein to use these traits at will. May we always know how to recognize when to use negative traits for the appropriate reasons and to what extent.

November 15, 2012

Shabbos Inbox

Achieving Success, One Failure At A Time

n the aftermath of recent elections, with its triumphant winners and dejected losers, let us reflect on Abraham Lincoln’s turbulent road to the White House: 1831: Failed in business 1832: Defeated for Legislature 1833: Failed in business—again 1836: Suffered nervous breakdown 1838: Defeated for Speaker 1840: Defeated for Elector 1843: Defeated for Congress 1848: Defeated for Congress—again 1855: Defeated for Senate 1856: Defeated for Vice President 1858: Defeated for Senate—again 1860: Elected President Because Lincoln became one of the most revered political figures in United States history, few people reflect on the man’s many personal and professional failures, any one of which could have destroyed him. But Lincoln would not be denied. Whether he flourished because of his failures is a matter of speculation, but he was certainly not destroyed by them.

The Torah teaches us just this lesson in Parshas Toldos. An uncharacteristic ten p’sukim, comprising an entire section no less, are used to describe Yitzchak Avinu’s well-digging travails. First, the Plishtim rendered his wells inoperable by stuffing them with dirt. Avimelech banished Yitzchak from Gerar. When Yitzchak left and dug new wells, the shepherds of Gerar fought with Yitzchak and commandeered them. Yitzchak dug new wells, and again the shepherds fought with Yitzchak and laid claim to them. Only after several attempts was Yitzchak successful in digging wells he could call his own.

Some view this as an allusion to the Batei HaMikdash, the first two, which were destroyed, and the third, which will not be (see Ramban, Kli Yakar).

But is there a more practical message?

The Chofetz Chaim explains that the Torah is teaching us an enduring lesson about life itself: failure is not synonymous with defeat. Yitzchak endured repeated failure in establishing his wells: his first wells were vandalized and decommissioned; he was put in exile; the wells he managed to dig were wrested from him. But he would not be defeated. He kept trying, kept pushing, and ultimately succeeded. The Torah goes to such great lengths to record this episode to teach us precisely that: in any pursuit, mundane or spiritual, do not let failure discourage you. Failure is not tantamount to defeat.

In fact, we succeed not only in spite of our failures, but because of them. Or, as IBM chairman and CEO Thomas Wat-

son, Sr., would say: “The fastest way to success is to double your failure rate.”

This concept was etched into the very blueprint of the world as we know it.

The Medrash teaches that, prior to creating this world, Hashem created seven prior worlds but destroyed each of them (Bereishis Rabbah 3:7). If Hashem could have gotten the recipe right on His first try, why the show? R’ Tzadok HaKohen explains that Hashem created and destroyed the prior seven worlds to teach humanity that failure is not only inevitable, it is essential. Failure breeds success.

Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb before he succeeded. When he finally did, he was asked how it felt to fail 1,000 times. “I didn’t fail 1,000 times,” Edison replied. “The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

“Al tismichi ayavti li ki nafalti kamti, ki yeisheiv bachoshech Hashem ohr li”—“don’t rejoice my enemies; because I have fallen I will arise, because I sit in the darkness Hashem is my light” (Micha 7:8). It is not simply that I have fallen and will arise—but I will arise by virtue of my falling. As the Medrash explains, “Iluley shenafalti lo kamti, v’ilulei sheyashavti bachoshech lo haya Hashem ohr li”—“Had I not fallen, I would not have arisen; and had I not sat in the darkness, Hashem would not have been my light” (Yalkut Tehillim 628). We don’t rise despite failure; we rise because of it.

The wisest of men similarly wrote, “ki sheva yipol tzaddik v’kom, u’reshaim yikashlu bra’ah”—“for the tzaddik falls seven times and arises, and the wicked stumble with evil” (Mishlei 24:16). Simply understood, this means that the tzaddik does not become discouraged; he falls but gets up. Rav Hutner’s un-

derstanding was more profound. When someone wrote to him bemoaning life’s many failures, Rav Hutner explained that the tzaddik does not rise in spite of his seven failures; the tzaddik rises because of his seven failures (Pachad Yitzchak, Igros Uk’savim 128). The tzaddik understands that all failure is an opportunity—the vehicle by which to learn, grow, and come back stronger than ever. One always passes failure on the road to success.

Knowing that failure breeds success, one can well understand why “b’makom sheba’alei teshuva omdim, tzaddikim gemurim einam omdim”— “in the place where repentant ones stand, the completely righteous do not stand” (Brachos 34b). It is not that Hashem shares some special affinity for those who have sinned; those who have sinned and repented are simply on a different spiritual plane because of their prior failures. Likewise, the Gemara teaches that, when it comes to Torah

study, we are not to believe the boasts of one who claims, “lo yagati umatzasi”— “I did not toil, and I achieved” (Megillah 6b). Because you cannot succeed without some measure of failure.

Basketball great Michael Jordan understood this too. In one advertisement for Nike, Jordan tellingly reveals: I missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot…and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

So are we to seek out failure? No. Crave it? Of course not. But know this: failure is inevitable. We all fall. You undoubtedly can call to mind several failures as you read this—I’m thinking of some of my own as I write it. Failure is a function of being human. You need not seek it out, it will find you. And when it does…embrace it. Learn from it. Turn it into success. With enough failure, you are sure to succeed.

Eytan Kobre is a lecturer, writer, and attorney, residing in Kew Gardens Hills with his wife and children. He can be contacted at eakobre@gmail.com.

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Time Is Running Out On An Extraordinary Transfer Tax Planning Opportunity

by Mordy Serle

O

WORKSHOPS SUPPORT GROUPS WORKSHOPS, GROUPS, COUNSELING, RESOURCES AND MUCH MORE

n December 31, 2012, the gift, estate and generation skipping transfer (“GST�) tax exemptions are scheduled to decrease and tax rates applicable to such transfers are scheduled to increase. Under current law, every individual can gift during life or transfer at death up to $5 million ($10 million for married couples) without any gift tax, estate tax or GST tax (these 3 types of taxes are collectively referred to as the “transfer taxes�) due to the current increased gift, estate and GST exemptions. However, on January 1, 2013, these exemptions are set to decrease to $1 million ($2 million for married couples) and the maximum transfer tax rates are set to increase from 35% to 55%. The nearby chart illustrates the history of the estate

any planning should be commenced well in advance of that date due to the historic nature of the opportunity and the amount of individuals who are seeking to take advantage of it. Gifts may be made outright to beneďŹ ciaries or in trust for their beneďŹ t and any type of assets may be gifted, such as cash, securities, life insurance, real estate, business interests and interests in closely-held companies.

Consider Gifts in Trust Trusts offer signiďŹ cant advantages over outright gifts to beneďŹ ciaries. If structured correctly, assets transferred in trust will be protected from any creditor of the beneďŹ ciary, including a spouse in the event of a divorce. Additionally, depending on how the

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20

tax exemption over the last 35 years and highlights the historic nature of today’s exemption levels.

Use It or Lose It This unique opportunity under the transfer tax laws coupled with today’s low interest rates and depressed asset values makes it an ideal environment for lifetime estate planning. However, to take advantage of the current exemption levels, transfers must be completed before December 31, 2012 and

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trust is funded, the assets held in the trust may be forever protected, passing from generation to generation without the imposition of transfer taxes or subjection to creditor claims. Trusts may typically make the same investments as people, such as opening bank and investment accounts, owning life insurance and real estate, starting or investing in a business and loaning money. Additionally, upon reaching a certain age, beneďŹ ciaries CONTINUED ON P. 21

November 15, 2012

Parenting Simply

I

by Adina Soclof

The Best Parenting Techniques That Really Work!

always try to use the parenting skills that I teach or else I feel like a phony. How can I counsel parents if I can’t do this myself? Sometimes I feel pressured but most of the time I am glad I know parenting techniques that actually work - strategies to help me connect with my kids, be supportive and keep myself from losing it.

Today I used the following skills:

Descriptive praise: Me: “T, your room is all clean. The bed is made, the clothing is off the floor and your laundry put away. It is a pleasure to look at your room!”

“I” statement: Me: “I need help sweeping the floor or washing down the table if we want to get to the grocery store before I drop you off at school!”

Empathy: T: “I can’t wait for my birthday present to come! I want it to come right away!”

Me: “Waiting for birthday presents can be tough! You wish you could just snap your fingers and get it like that!”

The broken record: A: “I already brushed my teeth!”

Me: (he did not brush his teeth) “Teeth need to brushed in the morning!”

A: “I already brushed my teeth!”

Me: “Teeth need to brushed in the morning!”(..As I move him along to the

Time Is Running Out On An Extraordinary Transfer Tax Planning Opportunity CONTINUED FROM P. 20

can be given significant control over their trust while still retaining the creditor and tax protection a trust offers. Finally, trusts can be drafted to be extremely flexible; including the ability to terminate the trust at any time it no longer makes sense to have it.

Another benefit to using trusts for lifetime gifts is the ability to structure trusts as so called “grantor” trusts— which means that the person who establishes the trust (the grantor) is treated as the income tax owner of the trust and is responsible for paying the trust’s income taxes. This permits the assets in the trust to grow without being depleted for income taxes, while the grantor furthers reduce his taxable estate as he pays the income tax liability of the trust each year from his other assets. This effectively allows the grantor to make a tax-free gift to the trust each year equal to the trust’s income tax liability.

Savings Beyond the Exemption Making gifts up to $5 million ($10 million for married couples) not only

protects those assets from the estate tax, but also shelters the appreciation of those assets over the course of an individual’s life from estate tax. Additionally, many states (such as New York) do not have a gift tax but do have an estate tax. Thus, in those states, by taking advantage of the current increased federal gift exemption, individuals are also able to avoid state estate tax on those assets.

For individuals with assets well in excess of $5 million (or $10 million for a married couple), taking advantage of today’s increased exemptions also provides leverage to shelter other assets beyond the exemption amount from transfer taxes. For example, a trust that is funded with the $5 million exemption amount can purchase an additional $50 million of assets from the grantor in exchange for a low interest-bearing promissory note. This effectively ensures that all appreciation in excess of the IRS-imposed minimum interest rate (currently 1.16% for a 9-year note in June 2012) passes free of transfer taxes to the beneficiaries. Additional benefit can be derived by structuring the trust as a grantor trust so that there is no income tax gain on the sale and by utilizing as-

bathroom.)

I repeated “Teeth need to brushed in the morning!” about five more times

until it was done.

All in all it was a successful morning.

I will try to keep it up!

Adina Soclof, a certified Speech Pathologist, worked as a Speech Pathologist in preschools for the developmentally disabled in the New York area. She then worked as a Parent Educator for Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau facilitating workshops.

She has been featured at numerous non-profit organizations and private schools in Cleveland. Adina developed TEAM Communication Ventures and conducts parenting and teacher workshops via telephone nationwide. For more information, visit parentingsimply.com. sets that are susceptible to minority and lack of marketability discounts.

Maintaining Control and Access to Assets Many individuals are uncomfortable gifting assets while they are alive because they desire to retain control over and access to all their assets during their life. Thus, the idea of making significant transfers to take advantage of the current exemptions is not without reservation and even less appealing for those individuals whose assets are close to the exemption amounts. Although you cannot have your cake and eat it too—that is, you cannot gift away assets so that they are out of your taxable estate yet still have total control and access to them— there are creative ways to structure gifts and trusts so that some degree of control and access to the assets is retained. As a simple illustration, a husband can gift as-

sets to a trust where his wife retains control and access to the assets as a beneficiary and trustee of the trust.

Beyond Everything— Feel Comfortable Before deciding on any lifetime estate planning, individuals should feel comfortable with the transfers and the structures that are being implemented. Paramount to minimizing taxes is that each person fully understands and feels comfortable with the planning. The time pressure of the expiring transfer tax exemptions should not make this part of the process any less important. Individuals should work with advisors who will structure and implement a plan that is tailored to and matches their individual objectives and comfort levels.

Due to the general nature of its contents, this article is not and should not be regarded as legal advice.

Mordy Serle is an Associate in the Tax Exempt Organizations and Trusts and Estates Group of Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP. He concentrates his practice in estate and tax planning, estate administration, and wealth preservation.

Prior to joining Meltzer Lippe, Mordy was an associate in the Trust and Estates Groups of the Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP and then Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP. Mordy received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was designated a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Mordy received his First Rabbinic degree from Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah, New York. Prior to attending law school Mordy lived abroad in Jerusalem, Israel for two years, where he studied in the Mir Yeshiva, Jerusalem.

Mordy lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Chana, his sons Abie and Yisrael, and his daughter, Yaelle. He can be reached at mserle@mlg.com and 516-747-0300.

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21

Never Look Back Previously: Atara is frustrated, feeling neglected at the Shabbos table because of their guest Nati. Rebecca goes through a conflict, feeling uncomfortable with breaking the Shabbos, when finally she concludes that she must keep it all or nothing, and turns the light on.

Part 12 Raizy The straw was a good thing to use to play with the ice. Pushing an ice cube from side to side, Raizy swallowed, trying to ignore the pangs of hunger in her stomach. Maybe when she gets home she can munch on a few carrots. That’s not too bad, is it? Just a couple of them.

And maybe if that’s too much she can resort to plain lettuce. Her heart beat slowly as she pushed back a strand of hair and looked up, her eyes meeting Shmuel’s perfect, sparkling eyes. His smile brilliantly lit up the valley like the picture-perfect sunset.

“You said you like the outdoors, right?” Shmuel recalled.

22

Raizy’s heart began to pound, like the drumbeat in a fast song. He’s going to propose!

Raizy smiled, happy he had remembered. “Yeah, I guess,” she shrugged.

“Like hiking, type?” he asked.

“Um, yeah,” she answered. Burning calories, she thought.

“Maybe we should change up some scenery?” he suggested. “We can go on a hike together, I don’t know, not too far away, before it starts getting too cold.”

Shmuel smiled at her and then said, “I mean it’s up to you. Whatever you want.”

Raizy’s heart began to pound, like the drumbeat in a fast song. He’s going to propose! her voice was screaming inside her head. To her! Somehow he thought she was good enough. No, not good enough, but the one! Her, the far-fromperfect, simple, and boring girl. But he wanted to spend an entire day with her.

He wanted to propose!

Tucking back another strand of hair, Raizy smiled and said, “Hmm, that sounds like a great idea!”

Shmuel smiled, self-satisfied. “So, where do you want to go?” he asked.

Rebecca The lake was a perfect place to talk.

Kevin ripped another blade of grass from the ground, twisting it in his strong fingers, his profile shining in the sunset. The wind blew gently, whistling calmly as Rebecca was lying back gently on the soft grass.

“So what have I missed these past few weeks?” Rebecca started.

Kevin was silent for a moment, as he threw away the torn piece of grass, “Not much,” he admitted. “We have only missed you.”

Rebecca stared up at the sky, watching the birds fly southward, seeking warmth. Flying away from cold reality.

Flying towards the warm sunlight. Flying towards the answers. But she was just lying there. In the cold reality. Not searching for any answers. Not looking for the warm sunlight. She stayed, uncomfortably, in a world that made so little sense. In a world so confusing.

Pushing her thoughts away, she sat up and looked at Kevin as she tried thinking of how to continue. But she just kept breathing, avoiding her reality, avoiding conversation.

Finally, after a long silence she said, “Kevin, you’re Jewish too, right?”

Again there was a long silence. Rebecca watched the clouds sway in the wind as the branches serenely swayed almost in perfect choreography.

Swallowing, Kevin answered, “Yeah.”

And then turning to her, he asked, “Why?” “Just curious.” Rebecca shrugged.

“But hey, you knew that already,” Kevin pointed out. “That was like one of the first things we ever talked about!” He laughed.

“Yeah,” Rebecca muttered. “I remember.”

“Becca,” Kevin extended his hand out, gently taking her hand in his.

“We’re over this phase I thought. You said you’re done with religion.”

“Mhm,” she muttered, her voice hardly audible over the natural orchestra. The birds calling to their mates.

The crickets, a soft harmony. The wind, a gentle melody. The splashing colors of the red sun against the sleeping lake and luscious trees were scream-

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by Alti Bukalov

ing, silently, in the background. Kevin’s warm fingers were intertwined with hers as she stared blankly at the distance, breathing slowly, to the beat of the orchestra.

“So how was it in New York?” Kevin asked, trying to change the subject.

Rebecca shrugged, avoiding his eyes and his question. Then, bravely, she stared straight at Kevin and asked, “Is anyone in your family religious?”

Kevin looked down at the grass as he pulled a couple of more blades from the ground. Carelessly he shook his head. “I don’t really know,” he answered. “I mean I know my greatgrandparents were. But then after the war they moved to America and that was it.”

“You know we never really talked about this,” Rebecca observed.

“I guess so,” he agreed.

“But do you think we are supposed to be religious?” Rebecca wondered out loud.

Kevin was silent for a couple of moments. Slowly it was getting darker and slightly colder. Kevin looked towards the lake and then answered. “Look, Becca, it’s a different century now.”

Turning back towards her, he finished, “I don’t think religion is necessary nowadays, if you know what I mean.”

Rebecca swallowed as she thought about what he was saying. “But I don’t get it,” she started. “If we all aren’t religious, then why does my mother care so much about the fact that I only date Jewish guys? I mean after all, we aren’t religious, so aren’t we just like everyone else?”

Kevin shrugged, “I guess some things are important no matter whether you’re actually practicing or not.”

“See, that’s what bothers me,” Rebecca insisted. “So I can accept leaving the Friedmans and throwing it all away, but then when I got home,” she paused as she thought about what she was saying, “I don’t know. I realized how many small things we still keep while being not religious. I mean like the funeral. Why did we suddenly get so Jewish then?” Rebecca stared into the distance and then added, “I don’t know, I feel like we have to pick one side and stick to it. No hypocrisy, if you know what I mean.”

Kevin didn’t say anything, unsure of how to answer. Before he even had a chance to say anything Rebecca tugged at a lone strand of hair as she nostalgically whispered, “If we would have had our daughter, do you think she would even care she was Jewish?”

November 15, 2012

A Healthy Outlook

by Shmuel Shields, Ph.D., N.Y.S. Certified Nutritionist

Food For Thought

W

hat does the body need to fuel the brain’s billions of cells? If you guessed food, your brain is thinking efficiently.

Patients of all ages often share with me their concern about their difficulty concentrating and habitual forgetfulness. These are usually accompanied by feelings of anxiety, depression, or both. Some worry that their mind is deteriorating, or that they’re experiencing the irreversible signs of aging. The truth is that a poor diet with inadequate nutrients may be the culprit.

One morning I heard a message on the answering machine in my office.

“Hello, Dr. Shields. Please give me a call when you get a chance. I just read your recent article and wanted to talk with you about it. My name is Breiny and you can reach me at this number…”

the blender.”

“It’s amazing how much of a difference there is in my energy level and concentration when I eat a high protein breakfast every morning!”

Breiny’s story confirmed something I had been telling my own patients – that diet and sleep can affect concentration and memory. In short, a good diet helps you think better.

Excerpted from L’Chaim: 18 Chapters to Live By, which is now available online and at Jewish bookstores near you. In this unique book, Dr. Shields gives clear, user-friendly guidelines for becoming healthier, stronger, and more energized while fulfilling the mitzvah to “guard your health” – based on the latest findings, Torah wisdom, and true stories. To order online, visit www.brandnamepublishing.com and click on Books. For more information or to order directly from the author, contact him at rmshields62@verizon.net or call (718) 544-4036.

My curiosity peaked, I returned the call. Breiny answered the phone on the first ring.

Her effervescent voice came across immediately.

“Thank you so much for getting back to me! I live in Queens and found your article ‘Eating and Emotions’ in our local magazine. I see that you welcome questions and comments, so I just wanted to share something with you, if you don’t mind.”

Since my next patient had left a message that she was running late, I had a few minutes. “Sure, go ahead.”

“Well, last year I started a first full-time office job.

Suddenly, I was feeling tired all the time and having trouble concentrating, especially in the mornings.

It took me so long to get out of the house, I was always running late for work and never had time to prepare breakfast. After a few months of this embarrassing pattern, I was fortunate to come across an ad for a kosher supplement company. I called them and explained my situation, asking for a recommendation for a supplement that would give me more energy and focus. Someone at the company suggested I try protein shakes for breakfast.

“I quickly placed my order for flavored protein powder and was delighted to find how easy it was to make shakes each morning by mixing it with water and chunks of fruit. When I have more time over the weekend, I’ve even tried making my own smoothies, mixing the protein powder with low-fat yogurt and fruit in

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Branded For Life Previously: After settling down in Munich and meeting with the Klausenberger Rebbe, Rose gives birth to a baby girl, whom she names Chaya Sora after her mother and grandmother.

seventeen

The Master of the World had provided a solution to this problem, too, as He continued to guide me every moment of my life. There was a German lady doctor who had given birth the same day as I had in the same hospital. She lived quite a distance from our home, but my husband

turn of events!

December 1946 brought us freezing weather and mounds of snow – but this time we were warm. We were married, we were parents, and we had food to eat and a roof over our heads. We were happy.

During the days, I was busy with my re-

Motherhood (1946) My life took on new meaning as I embraced motherhood with every fiber of my being. My husband was constantly busy working very hard to supply the needs of our family. He bought and sold all types of merchandise in order to make a little money, just as he had done in Czechoslovakia. And I was busy all day feeding and caring for our newborn child. After a few days, though, I saw that she was extremely lethargic and was not gaining weight. I realized, to my utter consternation, that I had absolutely not one drop of milk to give her. I was beside myself. What should I do? There were no baby formulas for newborns in Germany of 1946. Everyone nursed her baby. However, for a seventeenyear- old girl who had survived years of starvation, this was not so simple.

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My dream intensified the terrible, overbearing feeling of guilt that I lived with. Why me? Why did they all perish and only I lived? tracked her down and made a deal with her to trade mother’s milk for food. She readily agreed since she had plenty of milk, and like everyone else, a limited amount of food. And so, every few hours my husband would make the trip to her home with a baby bottle to receive the life-sustaining milk for our baby. As soon as Chaya Yitta began receiving the bottles, she began to thrive. Who would have believed that German milk was being expressed specifically for the purpose of sustaining the life of a Jewish child? It was obvious that Hashem was completely supervising this surprising

sponsibilities, enjoying my role as wife and mother. During the nights, however, I was tortured again and again in my dreams. I would relive over and over the fear, the pain, the horrors, the starvation, and I would wake up or be woken up by my husband trying to comfort me in the midst of crying or screaming in my sleep.

One dream that continuously recurred was one in which I heard that my father was alive. I traveled and traveled all across Europe to find him – but I never found him. This particular dream intensified the terrible, overbearing feeling of guilt that I

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lived with. Why me? Why did they all perish and only I lived? Why not Papa – so strong and G-d-fearing and full of love of Hashem? Why not Mama – so fine and so wise? Why not Bruncha or Henya – my beloved sisters whom I longed for, or my brothers – Leibel, Zalman, and Dudu?

They were such good children, learning Torah from early morning and throughout the day. What on earth did they possibly do to deserve such a horrific end? These thoughts continued to gnaw at me and filled my mind with so many questions I could not answer. I did not try to answer them. I knew that that was not what was wanted of me.

I always maintained my belief that although I do not understand the ways of Hashem, I know He has a reason for all that He does. I could never begin to fathom the unanswerable ‘Whys.’ And yet, despite my indescribable loss, I never lost faith in the Creator and Sustainer of this world, Who had sustained me up till now.

I preferred to remind myself of the endless string of miracles, big and small, that had led me to life, to my husband, and to the continuation of our lives through our Chaya.

November 15, 2012

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“Dirshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah: Finding Light in a World of Darkness” By: Shimmy Blum

I

t was just over three months ago that I had the privilege of attending the Dirshu World Siyum in Tel Aviv.

While there, it was clear to me that it was the most inspiring Torah event of my life. Standing amongst 13,000 dedicated talmidei chachamim of all ages and stripes, just a stone’s throw away from HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner, shlita, and other preeminent gedolim, all joyously celebrating the gift of Torah, evoked feelings beyond words. As I was exiting Yad Eliyahu Stadium, I remember thinking to myself, “Only in Eretz Yisroel.”

The scene at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, New York last Shabbos and Motzoei Shabbos was of another historic Dirshu event, the first ever North American Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah culminating with the Grand Siyum Melave Malka. As that weekend drew to a close, I could not help but think, There is indeed only one Eretz Yisroel, but…

The minute you walked into the suburban New York hotel, that same distinct aura of the greatness of Torah hit you like a bolt of lightning. There was the presence of respected Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva of all circles, includ-

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ing a special guest from Eretz Yisroel, the Ponovezher Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita.

However, what was perhaps most striking about the Kinnus was just how extraordinary the 500 “ordinary” people that stayed at the hotel over the weekend, and the additional 1,000 plus people who came on Motzoei Shabbos, were.

They were kollel yungerleit, mechanchim and hardworking baalebatim, who dedicate countless precious hours each week to ensure that they do not merely learn Torah, but actually acquire it – and yet more of it.

A case in point was the “sale” of the aliyos at Shabbos Mincha – the “money” in this case being Dafim of Gemara. The Gabbai opened with a bid of 100 blatt for shlishi, but that quickly erupted into an aggressive bidding war. Dedication to learn hundreds – often thousands – of Dafim Gemara is par for the course for Dirshu participants. After lots of back-and-forth, the winning bid was placed by Rabbi Sheis Avrohom Horowitz – who committed to learn 2,300 (no typo) Dafim Gemara to get a chance at making a beracha over the Torah.

You did not have to be in the Beis Medrash at that moment to realize the Torah’s effect on those present. You saw the Torah’s inimitable effects in the contentment in their eyes and their refined

smiles. You saw the Torah’s rays in the radiant faces. “The Bais Medrash was full early Shabbos morning and people kept on walking around with Gemaras and Mishna Berurahs in hand,” remarked one participant. “You were around people who live at a higher level, not just this Shabbos, but their entire lives.”

There were yidden of every age group, every background and every levush, all sharing an unmistakable sense of camaraderie. One participant, an accomplished kollel yungerman, related how he kept on seeing complete strangers walk into the hotel Bais Medrash and learn b’chavrusa with each other simply because they found a common limud. “I never saw anything like this in my life,” he marveled.

Apparently, neither did Rav Povarsky, who announced at the Siyum that it was the greatest Shabbos of his life. When a man of his age and stature makes a public statement like that, you know it means something. The Rosh Yeshiva and many of the other gedolim present spent a Shabbos mingling and speaking to other Gedolei Yisrael and “ordinary” Dirshu participants, exchanges that everyone seemed to enjoy –because nothing was really “ordinary” about the Dirshu Kinnus Olam HaTorah.

You walk into the hotel exercise room, and you find a yungerman running the

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treadmill, tzitzis out and a Gemarah perched atop the display. You walk into the dining room Sunday morning for breakfast and hear two yungerleit discussing where a Sugya that most of us have never heard of is, before settling that it’s in a Masechta that many of us have not mastered. And so on.

One participant handed over a handwritten letter from his eight year old daughter to Dirshu founder Rav Dovid Hofstedter relating that when her father takes a Dirshu test, “sometimes it takes (him) long to come home…but it’s still worth it because I know he is doing something special.” A bachur who attended the Grand Siyum on Motzoei Shabbos penned a note to Rav Hofstedter: “You cannot fathom how great of a chizuk we got from this awesome maamad.”

You walked around the hotel and you realize that everyone was just so happy to be there. One middle aged chassidishe Yid arrived at the hotel just one-and-ahalf hours before Shabbos. He was told that there were no available rooms but decided that he can’t miss this event and told staff that he’s prepared to sleep on a couch in the lobby if necessary. On Motzoei Shabbos, he reflected positively on his gutsy gambit. “It was my only way to CONTINUED ON P. 32

November 15, 2012

Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah – “Mein Olam HaBoh” A Look Back at a Truly Unforgettable Shabbos By: Rabbi Nachman Seltzer

I

t was Parshas Chayei Sara,5773; the location: the DoubleTree Tarrytown Hotel in Tarrytown, New York; the occasion: Dirshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah, which hosted five hundred guests for Shabbos and 1,500 for the Grand Siyum Melave Malka on Motzoei Shabbos. The event followed hard on the heels of two monumental happenings that struck the United States with incredible force – the 2012 presidential elections and the never-to-be-forgotten fury of Hurricane Sandy.

This was the backdrop against which Dirshu’s historic Shabbos event took place. It was a way for Klal Yisrael to unite in a beautifully joyful Torah atmosphere, sitting together with the leading Gedolim of the generation, to hear, imbibe and share the timeless messages that bear our life force. It was an opportunity to reinforce the ideas, ideals and concepts that we as a nation know to be true, even as we live with an uneasy sense of uncertainty that looms right outside our doors.

Klal Yisrael today is in dire need of nechamah, life-restoring solace – and the presence of the Gedolim and their reassuring words of wisdom served as balm to everyone fortunate enough to have been present at this legendary Shabbos event.

Mixing the very best of ruchniyus – inspirational words of wisdom, intellectually stimulating shiurim on a variety of topics, and the celebration of siyumim on various areas of Torah – the Shabbos Kinnus also provided a wonderfully relaxing interlude in the lives of all Bnei Torah who came. Simply speaking, Dirshu provided a feast for the body, mind and soul, all in one, in a Shabbos that will never be forgotten by those who were fortunate to have been a part of it.

Every detail was tended to in the most thoughtful manner imaginable. Partici-

pants were given the option of sitting in separate dining rooms or as couples, given separate tables, cutting into available space but ensuring that all remained as comfortable as possible as they enjoyed the experience, the drashos and the atmosphere while retaining ample personal space. It was a classic example of “Ma tovu aholecha Yaakov – How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob….”

“We walked into the dining room after davening,” one of the guests recalled, “to be greeted by festively set tables covered with delicious, artfully displayed food….

The meals were so betampte, so tastefully arranged, with everyone accommodated according to his preference and needs, in a fashion so inherently tzniusdig … every couple at its very own Shabbos table, as it were … joining in to hear the incredible drashos while sharing Torah at their own seudos as well … exactly the way a Yiddishe Shabbos should look….”

From the opening moments of the event until the guests’ reluctant departure, this Shabbos was an experience to savor and delight in, to enjoy and glean from, an opportunity to gain inspiration and rejuvenation while greeting old friends and making new ones. It was a true merger of physical and spiritual, in spectacular Dirshu style.

Addresses from Gedolei Yisroel HaGaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Staten Island, delivered an insightful drashah prior to hadlakas neiros, in which he discussed the turbulent times in which we live and the awesome challenges facing mechanchim and parents alike in the area of chinuch habanim. Rav Reuven discussed the issue at length, explaining that all the answers and solutions to this serious issue are to be found in the Torah, and that the only way to be mechaneich our chil-

dren properly is by utilizing the Torah that we learn to carry out our sacred task.

It was with this vital message that the guests of Dirshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah ushered in the Shabbos Queen.

HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Telz Cleveland and Mesivta of Lakewood, addressed the tzibbur between Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv, capturing every heart in the room as he ushered in Shabbos with a stunning insight into what it means to be a ben aliyah, a person who spends his life striving constantly to grow in Torah and avodas Hashem. He quoted the Maharsha’s salient discussion of, “What, in fact, turns an individual into a ‘master of growth’?”

“The key to becoming a ben aliyah according to the Maharsha,” thundered Rav Sorotzkin, “lies in being willing to forgo this world for the next one! It means being willing to accept the yoke of Torah as bnei Torah did in previous generations.

There is an incredible amount of Torah being learned in the world right now, but it’s often Torah without a yoke, without a shibud, without a genuine commitment. We’re so quick to drop our learning schedules today. We fly in for our second cousin’s wedding … a Friday seder is no seder…. There’s no yoke, no obligation.”

Rav Sorotzkin then related an anecdote he himself had heard from Telzer talmidim who had studied under his grandfather, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Bloch, zt”l, who was murdered along with all the kedoshei Telz in the Holocaust.

“When these talmidim were becoming bar mitzvah,” Rav Sorotzkin related with emotion, “they approached my zeide to ask his permission to travel home to celebrate this milestone with their families. “The Telzer Rosh Yeshivah’s reply was consistent with the way he lived his life. “ ‘You don’t praveh (celebrate) a bar mitzvah,’ he told his talmidim. ‘Bein hazemanim you praveh a bar mitzvah’; and

they didn’t go home. They remained in Telz and learned. That’s how they celebrated their birthdays – by staying in yeshivah and learning Torah; by reaffirming the yoke of Torah on themselves.

“This,” Rav Sorotzkin concluded, “is what Dirshu is doing for Klal Yisrael – helping us reaffirm the yoke, giving us back the shibud….”

Hagaon HaRav Moshe Mordechai Lowy, shlita, Mara D’Asra of the Agudas Yisroel of Toronto, spoke during the Friday evening seudah. He discussed one of Parshas Chayei Sarah’s major themes, that of Rivkah Imeinu’s chessed, not only for Eliezer but for his camels as well, and compared her actions of thousands of years ago to the outstanding behavior exhibited by the entire Jewish community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

“The hurricane served as a clear demonstration of the chessed that flowed freely from every segment of Klal Yisrael. People opened their homes to their brothers in need. Not only did they welcome them lovingly into their homes, they gave their guests priority. They couldn’t do enough for their guests; no detail was too small … and this was seen over and over again, in every neighborhood, in so many homes….

“The middah of chessed is part and parcel of Dirshu as well,” Rav Lowy asserted.

“From the attention given to the tiniest detail over this Shabbos, to ensuring that everyone had exactly what they needed despite the constant power failures happening everywhere, to the magnificent achdus that Dirshu helps create…. It’s Torah-chessed taking place on an unprecedented scale!”

After the Seuda The Shabbos schedule was chock-full of the most enjoyable surprises, one of CONTINUED ON P. 28

Behind Every Great Man… Rabbi Nachman Seltzer

D

irshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah was a most memorable event that was enjoyed by everyone who had the good fortune to be a part of it – and especially by the women of Dirshu, who felt how deeply appreciated they were by their hosts for the weekend – Rav Dovid and Mrs. Hofstedter. Every detail from beginning to end was considered, carefully planned and thoughtfully handled, so that what could have been just another event became an extra-special occasion, the memories of which will be forever cherished by every one of the guests.

***

Rebbetzin Shaindel Bluming gave a beautiful talk to the women on Friday night.

“I wanted to approach Mrs. Hofstedter prior to my speech to thank her for everything that she and her husband do for Klal Yisrael,” the Rebbetzin began. “I asked a number of women if they knew who she was, and nobody was able to point her out to me!

“Here is a woman who is hosting a world-class event such as the Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah, and she does it in such an unassuming manner, that no one is able to identify her. This is greatness…. In the silence, there is greatness.”

The Rebbetzin spoke at length about the benefits of living a true Torah life,

about the pure satisfaction that such a way of living brings to a person. She mentioned the serenity that a Torah lifestyle grants a person, and how all the gedarim, all the “fences” that Chazal imposed on us, actually bless us with calmness, peace and stability.

“All these blessings are the result of a Torah atmosphere in our homes,” she said. “And how do the women of Klal Yisrael merit their sechar in Shamayim?

It is by sending their children off to the beis medrash to learn, and by waiting for their husbands to come home. Who knows better than Dirshu wives what it means to manage a home in their husbands’ absence, knowing that he will be occupied in Torah to this degree every single day … immersed in the sea of To-

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rah while his devoted wife stands by his side, proud of his accomplishments, reveling in the power that is jointly theirs … knowing that nothing is more important to them than the Torah in their lives….”

The Rebbetzin related how Rav Hutner, zt”l, had almost been snared by the haskalah movement, whose proponents longed to trap him in their nets, due to his agile mind.

The Rosh Yeshivah would have fallen prey to these predators, were it not for one memory – a single moment in time: his recollection of finishing a portion of learning, and the tremendous siyum that his mother had put together to celebrate his accomplishments.

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Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah – “Mein Olam HaBoh” CONTINUED FROM P. 27

which turned out to be a fascinating and informative session of she’eilos and teshuvos – halachic questions and answers, delivered by Hagaon HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, Dayan of Kehal Toldos Yaakov Yosef of Skver, and moderated and translated by Harav Eliezer Ralbag, shlita.

One of the many questions asked was: “If a number of people are about to celebrate a siyum, is it preferable for each to make his own siyum, his own Kaddish, his own seudas mitzvah … or should they combine and celebrate all together, making one large siyum, with the kiddush Hashem that this creates?”

Rav Steinmetz’s response was: “This question should clearly be asked to Rav Dovid Hofstedter – for after witnessing the unforgettable siyumim that Rav Dovid put together this past summer, who is more of an expert on siyumim than he?!”

The camaraderie that filled the room, the tremendous achdus between people of different stripes, and the festive spirit and obvious delight in Torah study, turned this session into one of the highlights of the Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah. The lively give-and-take of a true Torah shiur enveloped the proceedings. No one wanted it to end.

Rav Steinmetz mentioned another point that was repeated and quoted throughout the Shabbos: “The passuk states, ‘Dirshu Hashem Ve’izi,’” he said,

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using the Chassidishe pronunciation of the word Ve’uzo. “Dirshu makes learning Torah easy!” This point went over very well among all the participants, who pointed out that the printed schedule was misleading, as it stated that the oneg would begin at ten thirty, when it had in fact begun with Rav Steinmetz’s halachah shiur at nine forty-five!!

The shiur was followed by a gala oneg Shabbos, at which the tzibbur enjoyed heartfelt Shabbos zemiros by Reb Abish Brodt and sons, and yet another delightful shiur given by HaGaon HaRav Fischel Shachter, shlita, Maggid Shiur in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, in his inimitably amusing and thought-provoking style.

“The respect that a wife and children have for a husband and father, who commits to the full learning schedule that is required in order to undertake the responsibility of the monthly Dirshu tests, is not to be believed … it’s pashut not shayich!” Rav Shachter gave numerous examples of stories he’d heard firsthand of families whose lives had been revolutionized by the introduction of Dirshu in their homes. His trademark warmth, humor and sincerity touched a chord in the heart of everyone sitting in the hall and was the perfect ending to an evening of true inspiration.

While many people did in fact retire for the night after the oneg, the rooms set aside for battei medrash at the DoubleTree Tarrytown Hotel were in fact full, well past 1 a.m., with Yidden shteiging away over their sefarim. Apparently, the

official oneg Shabbos had been just the beginning of their evening.

Shabbos Day Of course, there were Daf Yomi shiurim before davening on Shabbos morning, delivered by Rav Dovid Hofstedter and Rav Nuta Silber. This was, after all, a Dirshu Shabbos. One participant at Rav Dovid’s Shiur remarked, “I’m filled with such incredible hakaras hatov to Rav Dovid for everything he’s done for me….

What better way to show it than by rising early on a Shabbos morning to learn from the man who has changed my life?

“I learn Rav Dovid’s sefarim as well,” he went on, “and I make sure to repeat his chashuveh Torah chiddushim in his name … what better way is there to be mezakeh a fellow Jew … and certainly someone to whom I owe so very much!” One could feel the electricity in air as he explained the sugya, quoting extensively from Rishonim and Acharonim, the sounds of his kol Torah filling the early Shabbos morning with beautiful notes of Torah music – an auspicious start to what promised to be another day to remember for life.

The superb voice of Reb Abish Brodt accompanied the assembled throughout the Shabbos. He davened not only Kabbalas Shabbos but Shacharis and Rosh Chodesh bentching as well, with his talented children backing him up throughout.

After Mussaf it was time for another Dirshu highlight, as HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, who had flown in from Eretz Yisrael especially for the occasion, rose to speak.

The Ponovezher Rosh Yeshivah gave a lomdisheh shiur on the intricate details of the sugya of kinyanei kiddushin, into

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which he interwove a new yesod on kinyanei eirusin and nisuin that inspired his listeners to begin an excited debate in the way of milchamtah shel Torah. It was a legendary moment in the Torah world, as Rav Povarsky delivered his masterful shiur flanked by Rav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, Rav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, the Skverer Dayan, shlita, and Rav Yitzchak Sorotzkin, shlita.

It was a true chaburah, with the Gedolim as full participants! Rav Reuven quoted at length from the psak of his father, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l on the monetary worth of a kesubah, the Skverer Dayan had plenty to add, and Rav Berel tied it all together with true gadlus.

“It wasn’t just a shiur,” was how one listener put it. “The Rosh Yeshivah gave it over with such geshmak, you could eat it up … so amazing, so delicious, we wanted to make Kiddush on it!”

Listeners described the shiur as one from a bygone era, the kind of shiur that had been delivered by legendary Rashei Yeshivah of yesteryear, where questions are posed and an answer is given with a single yesod that causes everything to fall beautifully into place….

Rav Berel himself obviously felt the extraordinary emotions running through the air, exclaiming excitedly on motzaei Shabbos that “this was the most beautiful Shabbos I‘ve have ever had in my life!”

The Shabbos morning seudah was characterized by a warmth that spread to every single participant, making everyone so happy and thankful to have been able to make the trip to Tarrytown for this Shabbos event. It was felt by the spontaneous dancing that broke out through CONTINUED ON P. 29

November 15, 2012

CONTINUED FROM P. 28

the dining room at both the morning and afternoon seudos and by the achdus that surged among everyone there, no matter what his affiliation, age or nusach.

So many people from so many communities throughout the United States and even from Eretz Yisroel had come to be a part of Dirshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah. There were Yidden from all over New York, from Chicago and Baltimore, from Philadelphia and Toronto, from Lakewood and Montreal, from Teaneck and elsewhere; a crowd so diverse yet so alike. With a brief glimpse just below the surface, the common bonds were visible for all to see.

Harav Moshe Pruzansky, shlita, who has been part of Dirshu for many years and is Rosh Chaburah of the Dirshu chaburah in Beth Medrash Govoha, was one of the speakers at the morning seudah.

He quoted the famous medrash rabbah that describes the shiur Rabi Akiva was giving to his talmidim, who were having trouble staying awake. Rabi Akiva challenged his students with a question that was somewhat out of the box in order to rouse them.

“In what merit did Esther Hamalkah rule over 127 countries?”

In answer to his own question, Rabi Akiva then said, “Because of Sarah Imeinu, who lived for 127 years.”

Rav Pruzansky found this midrash difficult.

“Had Sarah Imeinu lived only half the time she did, would that have cut down on the amount of countries over which Esther Hamalkah ruled?

“No doubt,” he explained, “Rabi Akiva was referring to an entirely different con-

cept. When the Torah states that Sarah Imeinu lived for 127 years, and that they were good years, even though we know that Sarah Imeinu’s life was a difficult one, it means that Sarah Imeinu utilized her time to the fullest, never wasting a second, never loosing a minute – and that’s why her life is considered to have been so good. It was in this zechus, in the merit of knowing the importance of every second, that Esther Hamalkah merited to rule over 127 countries.

“Time management is the key here – and that’s the gift that Dirshu has brought to our world.”

In another dining hall, Harav Moshe Schonblum, shlita, Menahel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, was the featured speaker during the morning seudah, his words clearly emerging from the depths of his heart.

“Chazarah and more chazarah and more chazarah,” he exhorted the crowd.

“This is the way to acquire the Torah!

With tests and constant review, with accountability and responsibility! This is what keeps a person growing and moving in the right direction!”

He then related a personal story. While interviewing for the position of Menahel at Yeshivah Ateret Torah, Rav Moshe had met with Hagaon HaRav Yosef Harari-Raful, shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Torah and one of the guiding spiritual forces of Sefardic Jewry in the United States.

I’ve heard lashon hara about you,” Rav Harari-Raful said to him. Rav Moshe was taken aback. What had the eminent Rav Raful heard about him?

“They told me that you take Dirshu tests on a regular basis…. such devotion to Torah learning might interfere with running the school and will pull you away

from your job….”

Rav Moshe waited tensely to see where Rav Harari-Raful was going with this.

“I disagree with them,” Rav Raful told his potential menahel. “I disagree with them. The reason that they claim it makes you unsuitable is the very reason I’m choosing you for the job! L’kach nivcharta – for that very reason, for your wonderful achrayus and dedication to the Torah that you learn. That’s why I want you!”

HaGaon HaRav Zev Smith, shlita, Maggid Shiur for Daf HaYomi and Irgun Shiurei Torah, delivered a comprehensive halachah shiur before Minchah on inyanim relating to electricity in the neiros of Shabbos, the Chanukah menorah and biur chametz. He quoted the famous mishnah in Shabbos that we recite in davening every Friday night: “The mishnah states that a person is supposed to say three things to the members of his household on erev Shabbos: “Isartem? Eiravtem? Hadliku es haneir – Did you separate maaser [from the fruits]? Did you take care of the eiruv?

[Remember to] light the candles.”

Rav Zev then cited a chiddush found in HaRav Akiva Eiger z”tl: Notice that the Mishna states “Hadliku – light the candles.” It does not suggest that the husband tell anyone to prepare the lamp, fill it with oil and insert a wick. This is because the husband is obligated to take care of preparing the lamp himself. He may leave for others only the act of kindling the lights. He must do his part to ensure that the Shabbos enters a peaceful home that is ready and waiting for it.”

At Shalosh Seudos Hagaon HaRav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha,

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who spoke during shalosh seudos, quoted a Ramban that relates how Avraham Avinu returned to Be’er Sheva after Akeidas Yitzchak to give praise to Hashem for the miracles that had been wrought on Har Hamoriah.

“Why did he go specifically to Be’er Sheva to give praise and thanks to Hashem? asks the Ramban. He answers that it is because that’s where Avraham’s eishel was – the place where he’d provided hachnasas orchim to so many people over the years – which made Be’er Sheva the most appropriate place to give thanks to Hashem.”

Rav Olshin then quoted a passuk from Nishmas: “Were our mouths as full of song as the sea, and our tongues as full of joyous song as its multitude of waves … and our hands spread as wide as eagles of the sky, and our feet as swift as deer….”

“Isn’t hodayah – giving praise – something that we do with only our mouths?”

Rav Yeruchim wondered. “Why does the passuk include these other elements as well?”

“The most effective hodayah, the most gracious thanks a person can offer Hashem,” the Rosh Yeshivah explained, “is to carry on doing the wonderful things he’s been doing all his life. Avraham Avinu gave thanks to the Ribbono Shel Olam by returning to the place where he had done so much chessed and where he had carried out the ratzon Hashem so beautifully. That’s what made Be’er Sheva the perfect location for offering thanks. He was thanking Hashem by continuing to do the mitzvos he had done for so long! We can give thanks to Hashem with our mouths and our lips and our tongues and our feet CONTINUED ON P. 31

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“Dirshu Grand Siyum Melave Malka Culminates a Historic Shabbos Honoring the Torah” By: Shimmy Blum

I

t was not long after we made havdala last Motzoei Shabbos and you could no longer walk through the main lobby at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY. The Grand Siyum Melave Malka at Dirshu’s “Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah” was set to begin and over 1,000 men arrived off cars and busses from Brooklyn, Lakewood, Monsey and other frum neighborhoods to join the 500 people that merited spending Shabbos at the Kinnus.

As the crowd eagerly awaited the doors of the grand ballroom to open, they already got a solid taste of what this event was all about. Shtreimlach with white socks mingled seamlessly with clean shaven yungerleit; bachurim were seen schmoozing with yungerleit and whitebearded yidden; Sefardim stood side by side with Ashkenazim. Dedicated wives were wheeling babies in strollers in another room while their husbands peered over sefarim; beaming middle aged men stood beside their married sons and sonsin-law who had reached great milestones in learning.

Despite the large size and diversity of the crowd on display, the suburban hotel was permeated by a distinct aura of serenity. Everyone seemed comfortable with each other; everyone seemed relaxed; everyone seemed happy. Although many of the participants have never met each other, they all felt as if they were home – because they were home.

It was an occasion to pay tribute to the thousands of Dirshu participants who go the extra mile in their learning each day, and ended up mastering Shas, Halacha and other areas of Torah. One family. One vision. One goal.

Making the Impossible Possible A glance at the dais gracing the ballroom highlighted the significance of this first-of-its-kind historic Kinnus. The preeminent rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva in North America, of both chassidshe and Litvishe communities, filled the many seats of the dais. Several seats on the lower row of the dais were graced by some of the prized yungerleit who mastered the premier Kinyan Shas and Kinyan Halacha tests.

HaGaon HaRav Zev Smith, shlita, Maggid Shiur of Dirshu’s Daf Yomi B’Halacha program and Irgun Shiurei Torah, spoke of the pain that Hashem has over one who has the opportunity to learn Torah but does not do so. It can be easy for a person to dismiss his capabilities and believe that it is “ih efshar” – impossible - for him to learn Torah, to learn more Torah than what he has mastered until that point. “Dirshu wipes away Hashem’s tears,” Rav Smith exclaimed.

The Dirshu concept of arranging for an elaborate structure for learning and testing gives over 20,000 yidden across the

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globe the incentive not to miss even a single page of their limudim and to thoroughly review every word of it. Suddenly, one way or another, it becomes possible to find the time to learn and review yet another Daf of Gemara or siman in Shulchan Aruch with time that you previously believed did not exist. “What percentage of the hours that yidden spent being mesayem Shas was done waiting for a train, in the doctor’s office, etc., and other ‘impossible’ times?,” Rav Smith wondered.

Rabbi Smith recounted the words of his rebbi, HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Pam, zt”l, explaining the words of Chazal that “Ashrei mi shebah l’kaan v’talmudo b’yado,” fortunate is he who arrives with his learning in hand. Rav Pam related that if a yid doesn’t master his designated portion of Torah in his lifetime, his neshama must, R”l, be returned to this world after he passes away. Thus, one who reaches the World-to-Come with his Torah in hand is fortunate to avoid that fate. Rabbi Smith lauded Dirshu for its success in helping yidden attain – and retain - significant portions of Torah.

Dirshu’s success at helping mainstream bnei Torah and baalebatim tighten their grip on Torah is an inestimable accomplishment indeed, but Rabbi Smith made it a point to also note the amazing accomplishments of Acheinu, Dirshu’s kiruv arm. Acheinu runs a vast national network of Yeshivos, and teenage outreach centers in Eretz Yisroel, where youth from secular and marginally religious homes are brought towards the glow of yiddishkeit and limud haTorah.

Rabbi Smith related an anecdote he recently heard about an Acheinu child who was completely removed from Torah just a short while earlier. Each anecdote is miraculous, but the fact that this story is repeated by over 10,000-fold throughout Eretz Yisroel makes it all the more amazing.

Strengthening the Connection It is not every day that America is graced by the presence of HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, but Rav Povarsky undertook the trip to our shores to participate in Dirshu’s Kinnus Olam HaTorah.

At the Grand Siyum Melave Malka, the senior Rosh Yeshiva expounded upon the greatness of Torah and the lofty levels it affords its learners to attain.

Rav Povarsky opened his remarks by citing the Gemara in Maseches Berachos that describes Torah learning with the words “mevakshei Hashem,” those who seek out Hashem. The Rosh Yeshiva explains that there are two fundamentally differing levels of learning Torah. There is the elementary level of Torah, where one learns a minimal amount necessary out of fear of transgressing Hashem’s mandate. On the other hand, there are those who learn out of a craving love of Hash-

em, and always seek out the maximum quantity and quality of Torah that they possibly can – and the reward for the latter is far greater.

“Those who learn Torah with ahava (love),” the Rosh Yeshiva explained, “merit being directly connected to Hashem through it. ‘Yisroel v’oraisa v’kudsha berich hu chad hu,’ the yidden, the Torah, and Hashem, are all one.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then pondered an intriguing question: The mefarshim teach us that Hashem created the world so that the more necessary a commodity is for every moment of life, the easier it is to attain, e.g. air is universally available, water a little less so, and food even less so. Hence, the question begets, since Torah is the essence of a yid’s life –“ki heim chayeinu v’orech yameinu”- why is it not easier to find? Why is it referred to as “yekara m’pninim,” more precious than pearls?

Rav Povarsky answered this enigma based on his previous introduction. He explained that the minimal amount of Torah necessary to live is indeed relatively easy to learn. It is only the elevated level of fully delving into Torah that is more difficult. The Rosh Yeshiva then lauded Dirshu for helping bridge these two levels. He mentioned the passuk and organization motto –“Dirshu Hashem v’uzo bakshu fanav tamid”- and explained the “mevakshim” –the seekers- learn Torah “tamid,” steadily. To them, it is not merely like food, on which you munch on occasion, but like air, which you breathe in constantly. “Dirshu makes it easy to go from the level of yirah to the level of ahava!,” through its pleasant learning and testing structure, Rav Povarsky exclaimed.

The Rosh Yeshiva then reflected on the momentous Shabbos he had just spent honoring the Torah, by combining the principles of the holiness of Shabbos and Torah. He noted that wholesomeness in Torah creates wholesomeness in Shabbos and pointed to the words we recite during Shemonei Esrei every Shabbos by Mincha: “Avraham yageil, Yitzchok yeranein, Yaakov uvanav yanuchu bo;” Avraham and Yitzchak merely rejoice on Shabbos, but Yaakov merits the ultimate Shabbos rest. “’Titein emes l’Yaakov,’ Yaakov had the shleimus in Torah,” Rav Povarsky cited as the reasoning for his special portion in Shabbos.

As the attendees were in the midst of bidding farewell to an uplifting Shabbos and their neshama yeseira, Rav Povarsky turned to Dirshu’s visionary founder, Rav Dovid Hofstedter and expounded upon his immense zechus in strengthening Torah in klal Yisroel. “Reb Dovid, how many neshamos are you feeding?,” he asked.

“There is no greater zechus possible.”

Finding Joy Within minutes of hearing the above words of inspiration, the entire crowd

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found itself expressing their joy by forming lively dancing circles around their tables. The screens around the ballroom began playing tidbits from the Dirshu World Siyum at Yad Eliyahu Stadium in Eretz Yisrael this past summer. The sight of klal Yisroel’s most preeminent gedolim and 13,000 dedicated bnei Torah, dancing animatedly to the special melodies composed in honor of the Siyum, was enough to raise attendees’ eyes in nostalgia.

It was not long before the orchestra and choir on stage at the DoubleTree at Tarrytown began singing those same songs. Ruvi Banet, who helped conduct the music and choirs in Yad Eliyahu, was doing the same right in front of our eyes.

The piercing voice of Shloimy Daskal choreographed the energy and emotion of the assembled as the signature compositions were played and sung: “Mevakesh,” which features the passuk of “Dirshu Hashem v’uzo,”etc., as its chorus, and “Dirshu Hashem,” which features the words “Ashrei mi she’amalo baTorah” as its chorus.

The uniqueness of the sight we were reveling in, was explained by words of insight that followed. Hagaon HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, stepped up to the podium and opened his remarks by calling the Kinnus, “a true Torah gathering.”

Rav Elya Ber then began describing the significance of this historic event within the context of the historical turmoil in the world around us. The Rosh Yeshiva spoke of the physical damage that the recent storms have afflicted upon our entire region, as well as the “ruchniyusdige tsunami” we face with the sophisticated and relentless traps that the yetzer horah is using to ensnare our generation.

With the compounding challenges that we are facing, what is the antidote?

With this question in mind, Rav Elya Ber expounded upon the famous words of the Gemara in Maseches Kiddushin, “Barasi yetzer hora, barasi Torah tavlin,” Hashem created the Torah as an antidote to the yetzer hora. He cited that when Moshiach comes and the yetzer hora will be slaughtered, Hashem will say, “V’gam b’einai yafleh,” it is also a wonder in My eyes. Even Hashem will be baffled at how klal Yisroel overcame a yetzer hora that went well beyond his call of duty to cause yidden to sin.

The Rosh Yeshiva cited the words of the Vilna Gaon zt”l, who explained that when a yid’s heart is overtaken by Torah, his yetzer hora is partially transformed into a yetzer tov and complements the person’s natural yetzer tov, utilizing the yetzer hora’s aggressiveness positively -thus making it far more effective.

“In previous years, when the yetzer hora had a narrow focus, our Torah was able to be effective even with a narrow focus on a few blatt,” the Rosh Yeshiva CONTINUED ON P. 32

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Behind Every Great Man… CONTINUED FROM P. 27

In the end he did not become a maskil – all because of how greatly his mother valued Torah.”

*** Mrs. Chani Feldbrand addressed the crowd on Shabbos morning.

“I am so filled with appreciation to Dirshu for the priceless gift it has given us,” she said. “My husband ran Dirshu’s Kinyan Halacha program for many years … and I cannot begin to tell you to what degree it has shaped our lives!”

Mrs. Feldbrand shared many inspiring thoughts with her listeners, who were deeply moved by her words.

“Modeh ani lefanecha…. What exactly are we thanking Hashem for when we recite those words every morning?”

“Even if I did the wrong thing in the past,” she explained, “even if I sinned against You yesterday, I thank You, Hashem, for believing in me and for trusting me sufficiently to grant me back my neshamah, so I can try again to live my life the way it should be lived … for giving me another chance to live life as a Jew should….”

Mrs. Feldbrand quoted the words of Tehillim (perek 23), “Bin’os desheh yarbitzeini – He lays me down in lush meadows…,” and explained them through the meta-

phor of a sheep that sometimes wants to run away from the shepherd and explore the universe on his own terms, but the shepherd keeps the sheep in the meadow. Sometimes, though, the sheep just wants to go to sleep, but the shepherd won’t allow it to nod off before it reaches its destination. “Shivticha umishantecha – Your rod and Your staff…” – when Hashem leads us down a particular path, we can be absolutely certain that it’s the right thing for us.

She then shared a story about a woman who was experiencing terrible tzaros in life. What upset her most about her situation was the fact that she couldn’t make any sense of it. One erev Shabbos Hagadol, this woman sat down and wrote a letter to Hashem begging Him for a moment of clarity, to send her the ability to comprehend why it was all happening to her.

The next morning when her husband arrived home from shul, she asked him what the rav had spoken about in his Shabbos Hagadol drashah.

“The rav said that we can’t understand why Hashem does the things He does,” he told her, “that we can’t expect clarity in this world….”

She had received her sign, her moment of clarity. Yes, life can be full of challenges. But there’s a Shepherd Who’s in control, and that should be enough for us.

Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah – “Mein Olam HaBoh” CONTINUED FROM P. 29

and our hands – with every part of our bodies, because every part of us has been involved in serving Him, and we want to thank Hashem by continuing to do our very best with our entire selves.”

What Hat Will Moshiach Wear?

Hagaon HaRav Yitzchak Zalman

Gipps, shlita, Rosh Kollel of Tiferes Yaakov Yosef of Spink, was another featured speaker during shalosh seudos.

“We are all familiar with Mashiach’s famous dilemma,” he said. “If he comes to redeem us wearing a Litvisheh hat, what will all the chassidim say? If he walks into Klal Yisrael’s shuls with a streimel perched on his head, what will the proud wearers of spudiks say? If he wears white socks,

Mrs. Feldbrand’s words left the women with much food for thought.

*** Mrs. Yael Kaisman spoke during shalosh seudos, discussing at length the topic of tefillah. She offered inspiring chizuk and the kind of practical advice that leaves people with fresh resolve to change and do better. She discussed the role of prayer in a woman’s life, skillfully blending words of inspiration with a deep understanding of the woman’s role in davening. She also reviewed the halachos pertaining to women and tefillah.

Her talk capped off what had been an extremely satisfying Shabbos, which had rejuvenated the spirits of hundreds of women, all of whom had managed to get away for a Shabbos with their husbands.

It was a rare opportunity for them to imbibe the special Dirshu spirit. Says one participant, “It was a day to take pride in our husbands’ achievements, and we did; for they are our achievements too, and there is much to take pride in. We stand united by the Torah we revere and by the mitzvos we live to obey.”

had been studying presidential debates, and the teacher had assigned each member of the class a partner and a topic for them to debate. Hers was homework; she had to defend its good qualities – hardly an easy task for an eight-year-old.

She returned home from school in a terrible mood. When her parents asked her what was bothering her, she told them about her assignment. “How am I supposed to defend homework?” she asked them. “I’ve lost before I even began!”

“I’m not so sure,” replied her mother.

“Do you see how much work Tatty puts into his learning at home? Do you see all the homework that he does, all the tests that he willingly subjects himself to? Don’t you see how much more satisfying life is for him because of all his ‘homework’?”

She did see.

And when it was her turn to debate in class, she won. Dirshu had taught her a lesson for life: that sometimes homework is worth having, because it makes life worth living … and that’s why we’re here, after all.

***

***

Mrs. Hofstedter shared a touching anecdote with one of the participants. She related how one of the women had handed her a letter from her eight-year-old daughter, who had something that she wanted to share with Mrs. Hofstedter.

The letter described how the girl’s class

“None of us will forget what we’ve received over these twenty-four-plus hours,” said one of the wives. “And we’ll gladly return for another Shabbos, to connect and get a chance to meet our extended Dirshu family, whose lives and goals mirror our own in so many ways.”

it won’t be acceptable to those who wear black socks, and vice versa. Poor Mashiach! What’s he to do?

“The answer is simple,” Rav Yitzchak Zalman explained with a twinkle in his eye. “Mashiach will come down from Shamayim, and the first thing he’ll do is take a Dirshu test. Taking a Dirshu test will, without a doubt, unite Klal Yisrael behind him, to the point that nobody will even bother to look at his hat or socks. Because Dirshu is one of the most effective unifying forces in Klal Yisrael today!

Belz, Ger, Vizhnitz, Lakewood, Flat-

bush, Europe and Eretz Yisrael … all brought together by Dirshu and its common goals. And that same power applies when it comes to marriages.

Dirshu is the most effective tool for shalom bayis that exists today!”

Rav Gipps then related a personal story about the power of Torah.

“There was a yungerman learning in kollel who hadn’t had children for many years. Someone phoned me asking me to daven for the couple. I decided that I would begin learning four

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CONTINUED ON P. 32

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“Dirshu Grand Siyum Melave Malka Culminates a Historic Shabbos Honoring the Torah” CONTINUED FROM P. 30

summed up. “With today’s broad yetzer hora, we need a broad Torah; we need to finish perakim and Masechtos!”

Rav Elya Ber explained that Dirshu is the perfect medium to help people acquire a broad knowledge in Torah. It allows you to retain lots of material through chazara, but also requires you to learn and relearn it thoroughly, so that the grasp is real and comprehensive.

Appreciation for Learning Underscoring the unique diversity of the assemblage, the Viener Rav, shlita, of Williamsburg, followed Rav Elya Ber and delivered a distinctly heartfelt address.

“This is a personal simcha for me,” he exclaimed. “My son, grandsons, and many yungerleit in our kehilla keep up with the Dirshu program.”

The Rav praised the accomplishment of Dirshu, which incentivizes constant review, so that yungerleit expend tremendous toil in learning and use every spare minute to learn Torah. He acknowledged the enormous challenges that fathers with daunting schedules face in accommodating so many hours of learning, but focused his derasha on giving chizuk to those in the Dirshu program to continue with their mesiras nefesh and reap the rewards. “No one regrets taking part in the program,” he summed up.

The Rav spoke about the special zechus that the wives of Dirshu participants have by giving up precious hours of their husbands’ help and time, and told them to view the refined Torah nature of their home and children as the most immediate reward. He spoke of how every yungerman who submits himself to acquiring such broad Torah knowledge and

constantly takes the next step in learning should be valued by all around him as a potential gadol in the years to come, and should utilize his talents to give shiurim, become a posek, etc.

Next, the Rav spoke of how the concrete knowledge and growth offered to yungerleit through Dirshu’s various programs is crucial for them to appreciate the greatness of their devotion to learning. He stressed how necessary this feeling of satisfaction is by relating an anecdote of a yungerman whose father supported him in Kollel for a decade, who then expressed his desire to join the business world because “you can’t become a millionaire in Kollel.” The father replied, “Did I support you for a decade so that you should believe that earning a lot of money is more precious than being able to learn lots of Torah?”

“The Chasam Sofer writes that someone who is young in years but acquired chochma (wisdom) from elders is considered a zakein (elder),” the Viener Rav summed up, giving chizuk to the audience. “You may be young in years, but you are mature in chochma.”

In conclusion, the Rav expressed words of chizuk and appreciation towards Rav Hofstedter. He related the words of the Chasam Sofer who said that Yitzchok intended to give the beracha of wealth to Esav because he expected him to support Yaakov’s Torah learning. Rivka Imeinu, however, understood that Esav would not use his wealth for such upstanding purposes and plotted that Yaakov receive the beracha, so that both the “Yissachar” and “Zevulun” come from Klal Yisroel. “Rav Dovid is not only a Yissachar for himself, learning, and writing sefarim,” the Rav stressed, “but he is also the Zevulun that supports so much Torah for others.”

Grand Finale The clock was already moving towards late evening, but you would never know that, judging by the faces of the attendees, who seemed like they just couldn’t get enough. As the event began drawing to a close, it was time to highlight the highlight: the Siyumim on Shas and halacha that thousands of yungerleit have accomplished through Dirshu in recent years. The audience sat spellbound at the brief audio-visual presentation of the Dirshu World Siyum in Eretz Yisrael, displaying the Siyum made by Hagaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, and the Kaddish recited by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita.

The Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva,Hagaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler, shlita, was honored to recite the Siyum Hashas Kaddish in honor of all the Dirshu mesaymim.

The crowd then erupted into festive dance, as the lead mesaymim left the dais and joined the inner circle with the Gedolei Yisrael.

The final speaker of the evening was Rav Hofstedter, offering his view of the historic manifestation of his vision. Rabbi Smith introduced Dirshu’s founder and relayed that he had been requested not to speak about him – but insisted on mentioning him anyways. “Rav Dovid, you are Dirshu; you are the heart and soul of the organization,” he said. “You are not only the ‘Nasi’ of Dirshu; you are the ‘noseh’ –you carry the organization in the honor of Torah and its learners.”

When Rav Dovid gracefully took the podium, it was reminiscent of his well known address in Yad Eliyahu at the Dirshu World Siyum, and his words on Motzei Shabbos echoed the sentiments he expressed in the Eretz Hakodesh: Rav Dovid wondered why it was spe-

Dirshu Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah – “Mein Olam HaBoh” CONTINUED FROM P. 31

blatt a day, so that they might have the zechus to have a baby. One day I received a call from the Skverer Day-

an that the couple was expecting a child, but that there were complications. I thought the matter over until I came to the realization that I had recently stopped making sure to learn

“Dirshu’s Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah: Finding Light in a World of Darkness” CONTINUED FROM P. 26

make it in here,” he quipped.

The exuberance and mesiras nefesh of the Dirshu rank and file is indeed amazing, but it all starts from the top.

The resources and personal time that Rav Hofstedter expends each year on running every aspect of Dirshu is practically unprecedented. The involve-

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ment of every partner in this endeavor –from across the globe - is seen in each detail. There were many factors – from Hurricane Sandy to the blackouts - that made turning this Shabbos into a reality all the more challenging. Yet, determination l’sheim shamayim prevailed.

Dirshu’s indefatigable US director Rabbi Aaron Gobioff was unfortunately sitting Shiva for his mother a”h in

cifically in our generation, weak and under the weight of unprecedented nisayonos, that merited such a renaissance of “Shas yidden,” not only amongst “illuyim,” but across a diverse cross section of klal Yisroel? How is it that we merited seeing “the greatest kavod HaTorah in memory” during our era at the recent Siyumim, when the notion of royalty and honor is virtually extinct? How is it that during the newest Daf Yomi cycle, there are presently over 10,000 yidden across the globe taking the monthly Dirshu tests, including on Daf Yomi B’Halacha, the “new Daf Yomi”?

Rav Dovid answered by citing the example of Sarah Imeinu. Sarah had a very challenging general life, but regarding overcoming her particular spiritual struggles, her years were “kulam shavin l’Tova,” all equally good. The passuk teaches us that Sarah passed away in Eretz Canaan, which the Zohar teaches us connotes tumah, to highlight her victory over the negative forces. He then cited the Ohr HaChaim who says that one who overcomes great nisayonos reaches immensely high levels.

Rav Dovid concluded that it is thus in our generation, in a world steeped with tumah, that those who seek to overcome the challenges and toil in Torah reach greater levels than ever before. “The ‘pekel’ (bundle) of challenges is heavy, but this Siyum and the previous one in Eretz Yisroel show us that the soldiers put it on their knapsack and go into battle,” he declared, before issuing a rallying cry to all of klal Yisroel. “Klal Yisroel will always succeed; the only question is who will be on the side of victory.”

The rallying cry was apparently heard loud and clear by those in the ballroom.

The clock was past midnight, but all of those who did not have to make a bus home erupted in festive dance with no end in sight. The joy of Torah eclipses everything else. “Me’at min ha’or doche harbei min hachoshech;” a ray of light overcomes all darkness…

four blatt a day in their zechus. It had been difficult for me, and I had begun slacking off. Immediately, I strengthened myself and renewed my commitment to those four blatt a day…. Rab-

bosai,” Rav Gipps said, speaking with great emotion, “the day that I took the Dirshu test on those 120 blatt that I had been learning in this couple’s merit was the day that my phone rang and I was informed that their child had just been born! “That’s the power of Dirshu!”

the days prior to and after the Kinnus.

His presence was missed, but the nonstop effort that he and Rabbi Shea Ryback, an experienced event coordinator and Dirshu Kinyan Torah mesayem, who stepped in on two days notice, was evident every step of the way.

Hashgacha had it that I made my way to the Kinnus from Brooklyn, passing by the Manhattan skyline on the way.

All of us in the car marveled at how so many of those majestic towering buildings remained in the dark due to the hurricane’s effects. A half hour later we turned into the parking lot of a mod-

estly sized hotel, barely visible through the surrounding trees. Yet, what you saw there was a beacon of light in every sense of the word –undeterred by any challenges placed in its way.

There is a lot to say about the great accomplishment of Dirshu in the quantity and quality of Torah that it has added to klal Yisroel. We cannot, however, overlook another crucial aspect: Its sophistication, professionalism and wide reach offer all of the world a glimpse of just how fortunate and dignified those who toil in Torah really are.

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November 15, 2012

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But that wasn’t enough! Suddenly I found out that someone had paid a large portion of my rent! For the first time I found myself with a portion of my salary in my hand. Usually it would go directly to the rent leaving me with nothing. Then a box of food staples arrived for me. Then vouchers for buying chicken. I was still dizzy with gratitude for all of the abundance coming my way when I was told that money for clothing was also being sent!

You have transformed me. I was a depressed and embarrassed outcast. Now I have returned to the land of the living! I can prepare good food for my famiily, and dress them properly. I feel like I can stand up and face the daily challenges with courage. Your help gave me not only healing, food, and clothing, but also emotional fortitude.

If you had only sent money for the wig, Dayeinu! If you had only provided money for my daughter to see the specialist, Dayeinu! If you had only sent a food box, Dayeinu! If you had only sent chicken vouchers, Dayeinu! If you had only sent money for rent, Dayeinu! If you had only sent money for clothing, Dayeinu! But for you it wasn’t enough. You sent me all of the above crowned with the knowledge that someone out there cares about my family- giving me strength and courage to go on. I honestly do not know how to thank you enough. Really. Only HaShem can fully thank you and bless you in accordance to the goodness you have done with me. My prayers will stand for you always. May Hashem bless you with endless blessings!

Our #1 GOAL With overwhelming gratitude, (Name witheld) is to leave Jews, especially children, with great memories.

This woman is an Aguna with Five children. That you feed and clothe and help. Look at the All they want is a chance to be real power of your money!!!! ETERNITY. NORMAL just like you and me!

This woman and children are but a sample of a family that you help and helped. Thousands And that is how Hashem will upon thousand of children’s future are at stake and that is why it pays to beg and beg remember us, as having given for our holy Shomer Shabbos Brother & Sisters. If we don’t help them who will??? Who is his dear children a chance!! standing on line to help Shomer Shabbos Yiden? YOU! TIZKU L’MITZVOS! THIS TZEDAKAH IS UNDER THE DIRECT AUSPICES OF RABBI

What a Zchus it would be for all of us if you would donate at:

www.chickensforshabbos.com 718-261-9723 (Young Israel)

or mail a check to: Young

Israel Charity Fund 150-05 70th Road, d Kew Garden Hills, New York 11367 www.yadeliezer.org click on the tab Agunos,Grushos Melamdim

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This Week In History

Week of November 11-17 Nov 11, 1918:

World War I ends

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t the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the Great War ends. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, bereft of manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. The First World War left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded, with Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great Britain each losing nearly a million or more lives. In addition, at least five million civilians died from disease, starvation, or exposure.

On June 28, 1914, in an event that is widely regarded as sparking the outbreak of World War I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, was shot to death with his wife by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Ferdinand had been inspecting his uncle’s imperial armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite the threat of Serbian nationalists who wanted these Austro-Hungarian possessions to join newly independent Serbia.

Austria-Hungary blamed the Serbian government for the attack and hoped to use the incident as justification for settling the problem of Slavic nationalism once and for all. However, as Russia supported Serbia, an Austro-Hungarian declaration of war was delayed until its leaders received assurances from German leader Kaiser Wilhelm II that Germany would support their cause in the event of a Russian intervention.

On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the tenuous peace between Europe’s great powers collapsed.

On July 29, Austro-Hungarian forces began to shell the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and Russia, Serbia’s ally, ordered a troop

mobilization against Austria-Hungary.

France, allied with Russia, began to mobilize on August 1. France and Germany declared war against each other on August 3. After crossing through neutral Luxembourg, the German army invaded Belgium on the night of August 3-4, prompting Great Britain, Belgium’s ally, to declare war against Germany.

For the most part, the people of Europe greeted the outbreak of war with jubilation. Most patriotically assumed that their country would be victorious within months. Of the initial belligerents, Germany was most prepared for the outbreak of hostilities, and its military leaders had formatted a sophisticated military strategy known as the “Schlieffen Plan,” which envisioned the conquest of France through a great arcing offensive through Belgium and into northern France. Russia, slow to mobilize, was to be kept occupied by Austro-Hungarian forces while Germany attacked France.

The Schlieffen Plan was nearly successful, but in early September the French rallied and halted the German advance at the bloody Battle of the Marne near Paris. By the end of 1914, well over a million soldiers of various nationalities had been killed on the battlefields of Europe, and neither for the Allies nor the Central Powers was a final victory in sight. On the western front—the battle line that stretched across northern France and Belgium—the combatants settled down in the trenches for a terrible war of attrition.

In 1915, the Allies attempted to break the stalemate with an amphibious invasion of Turkey, which had joined the

Central Powers in October 1914, but after heavy bloodshed the Allies were forced to retreat in early 1916. The year 1916 saw great offensives by Germany and Britain along the western front, but neither side accomplished a decisive victory. In the east, Germany was more successful, and the disorganized Russian army suffered terrible losses, spurring the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917. By the end of 1917, the Bolsheviks had seized power in Russia and immediately set about negotiating peace with Germany.

In 1918, the infusion of American troops and resources into the western front finally tipped the scale in the Allies’ favor.

Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies on November 11, 1918.

World War I was known as the “war to end all wars” because of the great slaughter and destruction it caused. Unfortunately, the peace treaty that officially ended the conflict—the Treaty of Versailles of 1919—forced punitive terms on Germany that destabilized Europe and laid the groundwork for World War II.

Week of November 18-24 Nov 19, 1863:

Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address

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n November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, fought some four months earlier, was the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over the course of three days, more than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went missing. The battle also proved to be the turning point of the war: General Robert E. Lee’s defeat and

This Week in Jewish History • Week of 4-10 Kislev 8 Kislev, 1978

Golda Meir Dies

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his date marks the death of Golda Meir (1898-1978), former Prime Minister of Israel. Born in Kiev, Russia, she was subjected to brutal pogroms and moved with her family to Milwaukee at age eight. It was 10 years later, while organizing an American protest march against these Russian pogroms, that Meir decided to make aliyah. Meir became involved in politics at age 24 and was among the signers of Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Meir became Israel’s first Ambassador to the Soviet Union, and served as Prime Minister during the tense time of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. She once said: “Peace will come when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.”

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retreat from Gettysburg marked the last Confederate invasion of Northern territory and the beginning of the Southern army’s ultimate decline.

Charged by Pennsylvania’s governor, Andrew Curtin, to care for the Gettysburg dead, an attorney named David Wills bought 17 acres of pasture to turn into a cemetery for the more than 7,500 who fell in battle. Wills invited Edward Everett, one of the most famous orators of the day, to deliver a speech at the cemetery’s dedication. Almost as an afterthought, Wills also sent a letter to Lincoln—just two weeks before the ceremony—requesting “a few appropriate remarks” to consecrate the grounds.

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At the dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Everett before Lincoln spoke. Lincoln’s address lasted just two or three minutes. The speech reflected his redefined belief that the Civil War was not just a fight to save the Union, but a struggle for freedom and equality for all, an idea Lincoln had not championed in the years leading up to the war.

This was his stirring conclusion: “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Reception of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was initially mixed, divided strictly along partisan lines. Nevertheless, the “little speech,” as he later called it, is thought by many today to be the most eloquent articulation of the democratic vision ever written.

November 15, 2012

Shrinking It

by R’ Yaakov Adler

Dating And Premarital Guidelines V

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Foundations of Emotional Intimacy Part I

e will continue our discussion of dating with an inquiry that is often raised by dating couples. I will present several variations, but as one will see, the theme is fundamentally very similar: We’ve been going out and the dates are going nicely. I’m just not sure if this is the one. What do I do now?

I like him; he’s a nice guy. But I’m not sure that I feel anything. Should we just keep on going out?

Things are going well, but nothing is happening. I don’t really feel excited.

Shouldn’t there be more?

How do I know if the “chemistry” is there?

On the surface things seem okay, but in our circles we don’t go out too long. So how do I know how well we will really connect?

Over the more than thirty years that I have been working with young couples, this type of query is often challenging for the couple, parents, shadchanim, rabbanim, and the many individuals involved in the tremendous mitzvah and chesed of making shiduchim. The response can essentially be broken down to some form of these three options: Option A: Things are going well, there are no real problems, and you can’t know everything anyway. So go for it.

Option B: You’ve got to be kidding!

You can’t take a chance with this important decision. Drop it and move on.

Option C: Maybe just continue dating a little more and you will figure it out.

One can certainly present a good argument for the first two options, and if the couple feels relatively comfortable with pursuing either one, for the most part one should respect that decision. The option that I would like to address is the last one. There are several reasons why I feel it is worthy of more exploration. In the event that this was not the shidduch that was meant to be, option A can prove

ticles, various pragmatic guidelines have been presented to facilitate this process.

In my experience with young couples dating smartly and insightfully, they can ascertain as best as possible a sense of many aspects of the relationship. There is one most fundamental and significant component that is very challenging… very challenging because of the temporal limitations of dating, because of strict

"I like him; he’s a nice guy. But I’m not sure that I feel anything. Should we just keep on going out?" problematic. Conversely, we’d rather not give up our basherte –which is the risk we take with the second option. Finally, my experience has been that the inquiry itself may be underpinned by an aspect of the relationship that has not been explored. This is not because it is deemed unimportant, but because the dating did not focus on it, and as a result the couple is left with a certain lack of clarity and comfort. My position is that if we can provide some more insight into the relationship, the decision, albeit difficult, can be facilitated.

Dating, as we have discussed previously, has been circumscribed in our circles.

There are many good reasons for that, which we will not address at the present. Nevertheless, it does present a challenge as well as pressure, at times, for many dating couples. In our previous ar-

adherence to Halachah, and because of the difficulty involved in making projections before one is actually married. It is here that I would like to introduce the concept of emotional intimacy. In many of the situations where there is linger-

ing doubt, my experience has been that many of the dilemmas would be alleviated if the couple had a better sense of the potential for the relationship to be emotionally intimate in nature.

Emotional intimacy includes several factors that have proven to be requisite elements for the healthy development of a marriage. Among these we find the capacity for warmth and affection, the ability to reciprocate in mutually respectful ways, the ability to express and exhibit fondness and admiration for each other, and the ability to risk vulnerability and transparency of emotions. In our next installment, we will outline some tried and true suggestions that can be easily integrated into dating.

They will be pragmatic in nature and lend themselves to the dating in our circles without having to compromise on the dating process itself. So stay tuned!

Rabbi Yaakov Adler, LCSW, is an internationally renowned psychotherapist and lecturer. He has treated a broad spectrum of the frum community for three decades.

For information regarding consultations, appointments or upcoming workshops, please call the Queens office at 718.575.0308 or the Lawrence office at 516.239.3303.

We Will HelpYou

Our thoughts are with all those affected by Hurricane Sandy

Get it first!

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Just send us your E-mail address and we’ll subscribe you to the QJL E-mail list.

For all those affected by this terrible storm, we want to help. We understand the importance of quickly getting back behind the wheel. Fortunately 80% of our inventory, as well as our gas supply were untouched. Our sales team has been working tirelessly, as we continue to successfully help the community get back on the road.

Our team is ready to assist you with: Towing and Claims Rental Car Coordination Total Loss Payoff DMV Replacement

In times like these we are proud to stand together and be a source of help to our community. Your new car is just a phone call away.

Introducing INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE ABSORPTION PROGRAM Please ask for details

Attention Leasing Companies Welcoming our new fleet manager SHAYA GROSS who is available to assist your fleet needs.

Direct line 718.705.6904 shaya@bayridgeautoleasing.com

Visit us on the web at www.bayridgeautoleasing.com

BAY RIDGE AUTO LEASING

718.305.6000 665 65TH STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11220

Mendy Worch mendy@bayridgeautoleasing.com | Zack Schwebel zack@bayridgeautoleasing.com

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35

Blue And White

by Shmuel Sackett

Don’t Make Aliyah Because Your Basement Flooded but Start Thinking About It!

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ithin 24 hours after Hurricane Sandy, I received 10 phone calls and over 30 emails from fellow Israelis telling me to write about the need for American Jews to make Aliyah as soon as possible. One said, “They should see this as a sign” while another told me how “if they need to rebuild, let them do it in Israel.”

Here is what I said to them: While I want every single Jew to leave the diaspora and come home to live in Israel, I do not want them to do it because their basement flooded, they had no electricity for 10 days or because they had to wait on a gas line for 4 hours. I want Jews to come home because their lives are not complete in Queens, Teaneck or the Five Towns. I want Jews to come home, regardless if they keep Mitzvot or not, because that is where the Jewish family lives and families stay togeth-

er. I want Jews to come home because in 1948 our Father in Heaven gave us the

The chesed that I have read about has been nothing short of incredible. Com-

That nice house you have can become a living hell in minutes. That amazing four-wheel-drive Land Rover can become useless just as quickly and your manicured lawn can look like a junkyard in seconds

most wonderful gift in the last 2,000 years and we need to embrace, nurture and appreciate that gift.

While I am 6,000 miles away from New York, I have many loved ones and dear friends back in the “old country” and I have been following the news closely. The devastation has been enormous and beyond description and I have been praying for everyone to be safe.

plete families from Long Island staying by strangers in Kew Gardens Hills, laundry being done for random people, daily meals for residents in local Yeshivot, teenagers volunteering 15 hours a day to pump water out of homes and the distribution of free, new clothing. This is Am Yisrael at its finest and I am proud to be a member of the tribe.

We are truly a remarkable people. I do not see any of the other communities rallying behind their “chevra” like the Yidden. Instead, I see long lines of unfortunate people yelling and screaming at FEMA, blaming Mayor Bloomberg and inching closer and closer to violence. These scenes give special meaning to the bracha we say each morning, “Shelo Asani Goy.” Yet, with all this chesed and brotherhood among our people, I want to stress that while my position on making aliyah is clear – that it must come through love and excitement, not frustration or despair – I do want each and every person reading this to – at least – start thinking about it.

That nice house you have can become a living hell in minutes. That amazing four-wheel-drive Land Rover can become useless just as quickly and your manicured lawn can look like a junkyard in seconds. All the material possessions can disappear and you will be left with nothing but a big mortgage payment without the house!

I want to point out some more things

that may have been overlooked during this time. Weather experts state that “super-storms” should hit the USA once every 100 years but there have been three in the last seven years! Now these experts are saying that these super-storms will hit on a regular basis. I saw a video that Agudah of Bayeswater just finished renovations from the damage done during Hurricane Irene when it was damaged again – and far worse – during Hurricane Sandy.

On a totally different track, I fear that the recent events will cause a serious rise in anti-Semitism. History has taught us that desperate people do desperate things and, for some reason, the Jews always seem to end up on the wrong side of that equation.

Dearest brothers and sisters; the time has come to realize that life in the Galut is simply over for Bnei Yisrael. The time to come home is now but not because of a flooded basement. (Allow me to let you in on a secret; some basements flood in Israel as well. Shhhh – don’t tell anybody!) Life has been good for the Jews in America but as you saw with Sandy, things can change in the blink of an eye.

Material possessions can be lost, investments can turn sour and violence can become routine.

Aliyah is a process and needs to be planned properly. Start thinking about it now. Get it into your head that your future lies elsewhere and then make it happen. I will personally help with any questions you may have. During these days of tremendous chesed, I cannot bring blankets nor water bottles but I can give some wonderful advice about living the dream of “Lech Lecha.” That is the chesed that I can do from 6,000 miles away.

So, next year in Jerusalem… or Ra’anana… or Netanya… or Efrat… or – you get the point. Start thinking about it today.

Shmuel Sackett is a 100% product of Queens. He was born in Middle Village and moved to KGH shortly before his bar-mitzvah. He graduated from YCQ (1975) and YHSQ (1979). He was Havurat Yisrael’s first Youth Director (4 years) and started the first 2 NCSY chapters in Queens. Shmuel made aliyah in 1990 and co-founded Manhigut Yehudit, together with Moshe Feiglin. His website is www.JewishIsrael.org Sackett is married with 6 children and 3 grandchildren. He lives in Herziliya Pituach.

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917.549.6145 • QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

November 15, 2012

Mazel Tov! 23 BECAME ENGAGED TO 23 24 BECAME ENGAGED TO 26

graphika 732.363.8887

35 BECAME ENGAGED TO 34

These are just a few of the many boys who have become engaged to girls their age, or older. The list goes on.

B”H it is becoming an accepted fact in our communities that age should not make a difference. We are recognizing that the qualities of our daughters only improve with maturity and experience.

Parents are accepting phone calls from shadchanim regarding girls whose age is the same or older than their sons. Boys are very willingly accepting such dates.

This means that the opportunity for all girls – no matter what their age – to become an Aishes Chayil has greatly increased.

This indeed is a Mazel Tov not only to the 23, 24 and 35 year old boys, their kallahs, and their parents, but to all of Klal Yisroel.

Through this new understanding and action may we be zocheh to see all our daughters walk down to the chupah.

BECAUSE THE PRECIOUS QUALITIES OF OUR DAUGHTERS ARE AGELESS. Contact us at NasiShidduch@gmail.com 917.549.6145 • QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

37

by R’ Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb

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Things To Consider When Choosing A Rental

here are many things to consider when comparing the pros and cons of each particular rental situation. Whether you are in the market for an apartment rental, a private home rental, or an office space or commercial rental, you can take all facts in to consideration rather simply on a basic “pluses and minuses” list.

In an apartment rental, for example, some units come with utility fees included in the rent and some do not.

Some may come with only specific utility costs included, for example, electric usage is paid for separately by the tenant, but gas (usually cooking gas) and heat are covered.

Some may be in private home or multifamily homes, others may be in apartment buildings or co-op complexes. In co-ops or buildings, consider that leases may only be given for a year or two at a time and there may be limits placed on renewals. These also may require a prospective tenant undergoing a “board approval process.”

In smaller, private homes or small

multi-family type homes, there may be expectations with regards to garbage removal, snow removal, and general care of the property including possibly landscaping/gardening. The landlord may or may not reside in the building/house. In the case of an absentee landlord, be sure that a responsible property manager or caretaker type of person is available.

Some may have parking access or private parking included. Others may charge for parking options. And yet others may not have any parking facilities at all. Some people do not drive. Some only drive sparingly. For those who return home by car late at night, parking would be more of a concern. Same for those with more than one car.

Some apartment may have laundry units in place or they may have hookups permitting tenants to secure their own laundry units. Some landlords do not allow laundry in their units. Private

The Queens Jewish Link family would like to wish a huge

Mazel Tov to Yehuda and Chani Roberts on the birth of a baby boy!

May he grow up to be as great as his uncle.

38

Real Estate

home rentals usually have laundry units on the premises. Laundry concerns vary from person to person. Families with small children may need to do laundry more often than those who make use of dry cleaning services regularly and thus will appreciate a rental with laundry available.

We strongly advise all prospective tenants and landlords to meet each other in person. Experience has shown us that there is less opportunity for confusion or misunderstandings when a realtor arranges a meeting with all parties present. Furthermore, at this important meeting, we advise parties to put everything agreed on into a written form. Better to be safe than sorry.

Price and condition of the apartment of course varies from case to case, as does the all-important “location-location-location.” Favorable terms to all parties can be negotiated at the in-person meeting and a written lease prepared.

Written leases protect all parties and reduce confusion at a later date.

Mezuzos sometimes come with dwellings and sometimes do not. If mezuzos are already in place and a new tenant prefers to use them, they should have them checked by a reliable sofer to assure current kashrus. Some tenants have their own or prefer their own for sentimental or other reasons. As with any discussion between landlords and tenants, or anybody in general of course, mentchlikite is of utmost important. When people feel respected, anything can be accomplished.

A new situation occurring in our areas now, mostly due to Hurricane San-

dy and many people being displaced (hopefully temporarily), is that of the “shortterm” rental. Short-term typically means a rental situation for a shorter period of time than the standard one-year lease. It may mean month-to-month or a specific amount of time. We encourage landlords and fellow NY State licensed realtors to assist those displaced persons with their housing needs and to strongly consider a short-term renter although it may be less favorable to landlords. It is yet another form of chessed and chessed is in our blood.

We cannot help but mention the tremendous amount of chessed that has and is going on in our community of Kew Gardens Hills (and other areas) in response to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy on our fellow Queens Jews from Far Rockaway, Bayswater and other areas hit hard by the storm. It is so beautiful to see people come together from all backgrounds to assist each other in time of need. It would take many pages to list all the various forms of chessed that are being done, from the financial assistance, to the hands-on clean up efforts, to the organizing and providing of basic and beyond basic needs to those who are forced out of their homes, neighborhoods, cars, etc.. The list is truly endless.

Last Shabbos our wonderful community of Kew Gardens Hills was jam-packed.

The storeowners noticed, the shuls were packed and spilled out into the streets, and we opened up our homes (and some of us have “small” homes) to those who needed places to stay, eat, bathe, and just needed warmth from heat and warmth from the heart. Many of those families are still here and will be here for a while, as some of the affected neighborhoods still do not have their power restored, amongst other things. We are proud to be part of such a strong, giving, growing and caring community. May Hashem bless Klal Yisroel for all the chessed performed and may he restore normalcy soon to those still suffering. As a united community/Klal we should merit to see the coming of Moshiach without delay!

Rabbi Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb have been NY State Licensed Realtors for over 12 years. While specializing in Kew Gardens Hills, where they are long-time community members, they serve all areas in the five boroughs and Long Island. They hold several specialty certifications and are members of the Long Island Board of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service of Queens and Long Island. Rabbi Newcomb is a beloved Rebbe at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe. Sarah has won multiple awards from RE/MAX NY and RE/MAX International. They make their home in Kew Gardens Hills along with their three children, Yosef, Bracha and Chevy. They can be reached at sarahnewcomb@topproducer.com and Queensrealtorteam.com

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November 15, 2012

48((16 -(:,6+ &20081,7< &281&,/ LV SOHDVHG WR DQQRXQFH WR IROORZLQJ

Global Day of Learning (YHQWV LQ 4XHHQV RQ WKH ZHHNHQG RI 1RYHPEHU ²

â&#x20AC;˘ Friday evening, November 16, 2012 8:00 pm | Global Day of Learning | Rabbi Beth Kalish â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday, November 17, 2012 | Torah and Bagel | Rabbi Beth Kalish Temple Sholom of Floral Park at Temple Torah | 5427 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday morning, November 18 | Communityâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Wide Lectures Lander College | 75â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31 150th Street, Kew Gardens Hills 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10:55 am | Our Responsibility to Each Other | Rabbi Yonason Sacks | Rosh Yeshiva 11:05â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 noon | Why Should We Care | Rabbi Azarya Berzon | Rosh Yeshiva â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday morning, November 18, 2012 | Learnâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;In & Breakfast Rego Park Jewish Center | 97â&#x20AC;&#x201C;30 Queens Boulevard Rego Park, NY 11374 10:30 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1:30 am | One People-Culturally So Different | Rabbi Romiel Daniel 11:30 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:30 pm | The Gifts of Faith | Rabbi Samuel Waidenbaum â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday, November 18, 2012 | All Day Torah Study in Russian by Chazaq Beth Gavriel | 66â&#x20AC;&#x201C;35 108th Street, Forest Hills, NY Lectures begin at 10:30 amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:30 pm â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday Afternoon November 18, 2012 | Torah Study Program Hillcrest Jewish Center |183-02 Union Turnpike, Hillcrest, NY 4:30 pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;7:00 pm 4:30 pm | Rethinking the Book of Genesis | Guest Speaker: Rabbi Baruch Zeilicovich 5:30 pm | Torah Study in Smaller Groups

$OO (YHQWV DUH RSHQ WR WKH SXEOLF )UHH RI &KDUJH 917.549.6145 â&#x20AC;˘ QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

39

by Betsalel Steinhart

A

Israel Unwrapped Hidden Highlights Of The Holy Land

Access to the site is only during the opening hours of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center. Opening hours of the center are 9am – 4:30pm, on Tuesdays until 7 pm, and Fridays until 12:30. To access the site, enter the Center, on Nahon Street, opposite Liberty Bell Park and near the Windmill, and follow the signs through and around the center to the back. Alternatively, the major find of this site is housed permanently in the Israel Museum, and can be viewed there.

ing is what makes it so important.

The discovery that was made here in 1979 was as unexpected as it was immense. Barkai, an archaeologist from Tel Aviv University, was interested in activity outside the walls of the Old City. He reasoned that in a place near the old city, there would be quarrying of stones, growing vegetables, military gatherings, burials and roads; all these would leave traces that would be interesting to discover. He looked around the area surrounding the Old City, and decided that this hill, which he would later rename Ketef Hinnom (meaning the shoulder of the Hinnom valley), where the St. Andrews Church is situated (above the Begin Center) was the best probability. He received a small budget to dig, and also enlisted the help of a group of thirteen-yearold children from the local nature club. A completely ordinary dig.

They started excavating and discovered, amongst other things, some burial caves, typical of first temple burial style. Nothing remarkable at all – indeed, extremely common throughout Jerusalem. This style was where a well-off family owned a cave with space for several bodies at a time. A year after lying the body in the cave on a flat rock, the bones that were left would be gathered into a chamber below or to the side, next to all the previous bones of corpses past, to make room for more bodies. (This is both one of the reasons why we say kaddish for a year, and also explains the biblical term «to be gathered to their fathers»). Custom had it to bury valuables and trinkets along with their owners, and over the centuries, grave robbers, knowing this, ransacked these caves and dozens more like them.

These caves were in bad condition, had collapsed roofs, and there was clearly nothing to be found of any value. However, Barkai needed to have the dirt in the caves and chambers cleaned out in order to take a good photograph for the official excavation reports. He therefore chose to do this a boy named Natan, who was a particularly annoying kid with a habit of tugging at Barkai’s shirt, and generally being a nuisance. In order to get him out of the way, Barkai told Natan to clean the inside of an empty chamber, to be ready for photographing.

After several minutes, unsurprisingly, Natan got bored, and picked up a hammer and started banging the floor with it…and broke the floor, only to see that the floor was actually covering another room below it.

A secret, untouched room.

I cannot help starting this column with a remarkSmiling from ear to ear and holding a huge pottery able place that all tourists pass, yet few venture to see.

It is a few minutes walk from the old city of Jerusalem jug he’d picked out from the room in each arm, he and the major hotels, and it is the site of quite simply bounded over to Dr. Barkai, who instantly realized one of the most meaningful and important archaeo- what had happened. Leave it to a 13-year-old troublelogical finds ever made, and with a story to match that maker to make one of the greatest archeological disI heard from the archaeologist himself, Dr. Gabi Barkai. coveries…

The small secret room was filled with over a thouWhen you reach the site, you will not be impressed.

You will see the remains of caves in the shadow of an sand ancient objects, untouched in approximateimposing church, and perhaps even be able to make ly 2,500 – 2,600 years – since before the destruction out places where bodies were buried by the niches for of the first Temple. They included 125 objects of siltheir heads…but the story behind where you are stand- ver, 40 iron arrowheads, gold, ivory, glass, bone and

40

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journey to Israel is to a place where the past and present call out to us in astonishing ways.

There are layers of meaning everywhere you turn in this intense land, and you must always seek out the deeper levels, the ones you did not see before.

So yes, you’ve been to Israel before. Check. You’ve davened by the Kotel, amazed at the millennia-old wall and the centuries of tefillot it has commanded. You’ve then walked through the kotel tunnels, equally amazed at the way Israelis push their way into everything, and awed at the glory of Herods’ version of the Bet Hamikdash. You’ve dutifully climbed Masada (or perhaps guiltily taken the cable car – shhh!) and toured Caesarea; you walked through the streets of Tel Aviv, wondering which country you were in, and ran up the Golan Heights; you even dived into the Kinneret and gotten lost in Tzefat (or Zefat, safed, Tzfat or any combination of those letters); in short, you’ve done Israel.

Check…and now that you have to go back for Chani’s wedding, or Shmuel’s Bar-Mitzva (don’t they grow up quickly?), you have nothing left to see! You’ve seen it all… right?

I am living out my dream by being a tour guide in this incredible country that G-d promised to Abraham millennia ago. With all its problems and headline-grabbing issues, Israel is a unique country, with amazing beauty and diversity. Where else in the world could you ski down a mountain before breakfast, by lunchtime be floating in the Dead Sea (the lowest point on Earth) and in the same day experience the desert heat of Eilat? True, you’d have probably picked up several speeding tickets on the way. Yet to have so much packed into such a small country - forested mountains, fertile valleys, colorful deserts and a beautiful coastline - is unrivalled. Archaeological sites fill the landscape, echoing famous names and momentous events in world history, and four millennia of Hebrew-Israelite-Jewish history. Perhaps most incredible, though, is the sheer depth and amount of sites one can see even with fifteen years of guiding, I am still amazed to discover more and more sites that are breathtaking.

I promise you, no matter how many times you have been here, you haven’t seen it all!

It is therefore with an eagerness to share the hidden secrets of Israel, and hopefully unwrap our country for you so that next time you visit, you can show uncle Chaim from Bet Shemesh a thing or two he didn’t know, that I invite you to join me in this journey: Israel Unwrapped - Hidden Highlights of the Holy Land.

Site 1 - Ketef Hinnom and the Star Trek Vulcan Hand Salute

November 15, 2012

Israel Unwrapped Hidden Highlights Of The Holy Land 150 semi-precious stones. There was two feet of accumulation filled with objects and skeletal remains.

However, the most important discovery and one that made Dr. Barkai famous, only came a few days later.

A top-secret dig immediately commenced, and after a few days, Judy Hadley, a girl from Toledo, Ohio, walked up to Dr. Barkay with something very small in her hand. It was purplish in color and looked a lot like a cigarette butt. It was a tiny rolled up piece of pure silver, possibly containing writing on the inside. Soon after another one was found, and the discovery prompted a huge question: Can they unroll 2,500-year-old silver scrolls without totally destroying them? Should it even be attempted? There was a real possibility the scrolls would never be opened.

After being sent to laboratories in England and Germany, where two sets of experienced restorers of ancient artifacts and metal experts refused to attempt it, technicians at the Israel Museum decided to attempt the procedure themselves. For three years the contents of the scrolls remained a secret. After many difficulties the Israeli technicians developed a special process allowing the scrolls to be unrolled without being destroyed.

Finally the words in ancient Hebrew were revealed, and they sent shivers down Jewish spines - for the words were, aside from the shema, the most wellknown Hebrew words in Judaism… the same words every parent uses to bless their children each week, and the same that Kohanim utter to bless their fellow

Jews: the priestly benediction.

Possibly it was something worn when in the Temple.

Some even speculate that these were the forerunners of tefillin – which clearly were not the same back ‫יִשׂא ה‘ פָ ּנָיו‬ ּ ָ ,ּ ‫ יָאֵ ר ה‘ פָ ּנָיו אֵ לֶי וִ יחֻ ֶ ּנ‬, ‫יִש ְׁמ ֶר‬ ְ ְ‫יְבָ ֶרכְ ה‘ ו‬ ‫ אֵ לֶי וְ י ֵָשׂם לְ ָשׁלוֹם‬then as we have today – but two small silver scrolls with biblical verses, one for the arm and one between

May Hashem bless you and guard you; May Hash- the eyes, could be that. We may never know, but that em make His face shed light upon you and be gracious does not in any way diminish the uniqueness and imunto you; May Hashem lift up His face unto you and portance of the finds – which are now in the Israel Museum in their own section. give you peace.

In case you were wondering all along what the ref The significance of this find cannot be understat- erence to the Start Trek Vulcan Hand Salute was: aced. Aside from the emotional meaning and the prov- tor Leonard Nimoy, who was raised in an Orthodox en continuity of these words, they are immeasur- Jewish home, used a single-handed version of the ably important archeologically. They are arguably spread-hands formation the Kohanim hold up durthe oldest Hebrew writing in existence, and the old- ing the priestly blessing, to create the Vulcan Hand est copy in existence of any text of the Tenach - they Salute for his character, Spock, on Star Trek. While predate the famous Dead Sea Scrolls by more than attending Orthodox services as a child, he peeked 400 years! They dealt a serious blow to those oppos- from under his father’s tallit and saw the gesture; ing the authenticity of the Tenach, and gave convinc- many years later he adopted it for the character of Mr. ing proof that the Tenach was not a later creation by Spock, the gesture looking sufficiently mysterious, scholars, but that it was being used before, not after, and became part of Star Trek lore. the destruction of the first temple and subsequent The next time you bless your children in Friday exile. Also, the scrolls have the oldest mention of G- night, or the next time you stand in shul and hear d’s name outside of a Tenach scroll. the Kohanim bless you, think of Ketef Hinnom…and What were the scrolls? We do not know. May- add it to the list of places you must visit next time you be they were jewelry, good-luck charms or amulets. come here.

Betsalel Steinhart is a licensed Israeli tour guide and educator, lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children, and can be reached at betsalel1@yahoo.com, or at www.inspiringisraeltours.com

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Dirshu: Daf HaYomi B’Halacha – Deserving Our Portion

By Rabbi Yechiel Spero

I

recently had the privilege of spending Shabbos in Thornhill, Ontario, with a group of approximately 100 families, who are mostly baalei teshuvah. The shul’s daily schedule includes ashiur given by its rabbi, Rabbi Yossi Michalowitz, on the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.

With the hope and dream of finishing the complete cycle of the Mishna Berurah, a group of congregants wakes up early every morning to attend this shiur.

One of the class’s attendees confided in me that he feels overwhelmed by the daunting task of trying to complete the entire Talmud. But he finds the practicality and satisfaction of learning the Mishna Berurah through Daf HaYomi B’Halacha much more palpable. “When you get a late start in the game, it is important for a newcomer to be able to also finish something,” he explained. And, G-d willing, at the end of this cycle, he will be finishing all six volumes of the Mishna Berurah.

Can one begin to fathom the nachas the Chofetz Chaim, z”tl, its author, must derive from this program?

*** In this, the final essay in a series of four, presenting Dirshu and its innovative programs, we will further explore the wonderful and fascinating world of Dirshu, the brainchild of Rav Dovid Hofstedter. We will learn more about the members of the

R’ Karelitz at DHYB Testing site In what has been hailed “the new Daf HaYomi,” Dirshu, in its never-ending desire to enhance the quality of Torah learning, has revolutionized the learning of Mishna Berurah, as well.

With clear schedules and charts detailing a program where one not only learns, but also reviews and masters the entirety of the Mishna Berurah – the magnum opus of the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Yisrael Meir HaKohen Kagan – Dirshu has further enhanced the erudition of both laymen and scholars, along with their appreciation for the learning of halacha. Through the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, anyone who invests a half hour or so a day to learn one Daf of Mishna Berurah can become knowledgeable in practical, everyday halacha.

Boruch, a young man growing up in Australia, attended public school for most of the day. Every day when school was over, he traveled by bus to attend a Talmud Torah type of

R’ Elyashiv Hamlatza for DHYB Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program – those individuals who have earned more than their minimal portion and have secured the appellation of bnei Olam HaBa.

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school for an hour. His knowledge of Gemara was virtually non-existent, since the teachers in the after-school program taught mostly Chumash and some Navi.

When he was a bit older, Boruch traveled to the other side of the world to attend the Telshe Yeshivah in Cleveland, Ohio, and received his introductory bechinah (test) from Rav Mottel (Chaim Mordechai) Katz, the Rosh Yeshivah, z”tl. Unable to take any sort of a bechinah on Gemara, he managed to stumble his way through a bechinah on Chumash, but in his own words, “I didn’t do very well on that test either.”

However, a few years later, the yeshivah offered a monetary incentive to anyone who took a bechinah on Maseches Bava Basra, the longest masechta in Shas. Rav Mottel could hardly imagine that this boy was going to attempt to take a bechinah, but he couldn’t turn him away. After a few questions, though, Rav Mottel was shocked; Boruch knew the material perfectly.

Today, Rav Boruch Hirschfeld, shlita, a strong Dirshu proponent, serves as the Rosh Kollel of Torah Life, a kollel in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and is a well-known posek in the Midwest.

Originally, Rav Boruch participated in the bechinos given

by Dirshu on the Gemara. He took the cumulative tests and gained much from them, as the program forced him to review, retain, and master the Gemara. After a number of years, Rav Boruch, who had been learning Mishna Berurah with a group of baalebatim (laymen), became intrigued with the prospect of learning the subject matter along with Dirshu’s Mishna Berurah program. The group joined as the Dirshu program was in middle of Hilchos Shabbos, and the baalebatim felt a sense of pride and accomplishment with each passing page. The Dirshu schedule created a greater

sense of responsibility to the learning. The group had been learning random subjects, skipping from one topic to another; now, because of Dirshu, there was a plan, a mission, a goal.

However, when they reached the fourth section of the Mishna Berurah, Hilchos Eruvin, a problem arose. Although the fourth chelek is the shortest chelek of Mishna Berurah, it is the most difficult. So difficult, in fact, that Rav Boruch suggested to Rav Ahron Gobioff, Dirshu’s Director of Operations in North America, that he recommend to Dirshu’s founder, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, that Dirshu omit that

kim of our generation, lauded the accomplishments of Dirshu and the impact Dirshu has made through systematic testing in various halacha programs. Regarding the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, Rav Nissim was quoted as saying, “The correct way to remember one’s Mishna Berurah learning is by making written or oral summaries, every individual according to what works for him.”

From the future posek hador to the layman who wishes to increase his minimal knowledge, Dirshu has enabled thousands to remember the halachos they learn, to build for and spread the light of the Al-mighty, and to be-

R’ Dovid Hofstedter with Dirshu members at CC Kever in Radin chelek of the Mishna Berurah from the program, and move on to the fifth chelek, which contains easier subject matter.

In Rav Boruch’s opinion, if Dirshu’s goal is mastery, learning Hilchos Eruvin could dissuade some men from continuing to learn Mishna Berurah.

But the vision and foresight of Dirshu could not be denied.

They stood up to the challenge, and in the end, according to Rav Boruch, chelek daled was “oleh al kulam – rose above them all.”

It created an “ohr chadash – a new light,” which illuminated Hilchos Eruvin as never before, as talmidei chachamim gained new insights into the most elusive and complex piskei halacha of the Chazon Ish, and laymen understood the deeper concepts of lavud, gud asik, and pi tikreh yoreid ve’soseim (legal loopholes that validate an eruv). In fact, Rav Boruch and his group took a field trip around the neighborhood and observed where the various halachos applied.

*** Rav Nissim Karelitz, shlita, one of the premier pos-

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come bnei Olam HaBa. “Dirshu Hashem Ve’uzo Bakshu Fanav Tamid – Search out Hashem and His might, seek His presence always” (Tehillim 105:4).

What more praiseworthy way to seek Hashem could there be?

*** On the 12th day of Cheshvan, 5773, thousands of participants of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program of Dirshu began learning the fifth chelek of Mishna Berurah, the section of Hilchos Pesach. It will provide them with a thorough and comprehensive preparation for the Yom Tov, as they will conclude the limud prior to Pesach. What an incredible feeling of accomplishment they will merit! And through this limud, they will experience – and be able to spread – so much light.

Dovetailing the dream of Rav Meir Shapiro, z’tl, the founder of the Daf HaYomi program, Dirshu’s Daf is transforming the landscape of halacha forever. With Pesach less than six months away, can you afford not to join?

November 15, 2012

Frontlines

Back To The Drawing Board

by Joseph Frager, MD

W

hen Barack Obama won the election in 2008, forces were mobilized to minimize the damage that his presidency could inflict upon America, Israel and the world. As a result of opposition to Obama, Congress was reclaimed in 2010 and remains in Republican hands even after the election now. The Tea Party got the most credit for this turnaround but many other forces played a role then and will continue to play a role in the next four years.

The media continues to be a dominant factor in all that happens. Fox News leveled the playing field to some degree but has been outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outflanked by ever increasing Leftist talking heads - TV sta-

There is still the most important question of all: will Obama attack Iran, allow Israel to attack Iran or let Iran acquire nuclear weapons? tions like MSNBC, newspapers like The Huffington Post and cyberspace bloggers. Media has to be one of our main focuses to offset the ever-growing barrage of pundits, and bloggers. The Israel/Middle East topic will gain even more attention in the next four years.

The Democrat/Republican divide will become much more apparent on this subject.

A lot of loose ends were left from Obama’s first term, including the Benghazi debacle, the Democratic Convention’s attempt at striking G-d and Je-

rusalem from their slate, the so-called “Arab Spring,” which has produced upheaval throughout the Middle East including Syria, and the rise of Hamas in Gaza. Of course there is still the most important question of all: will Barack Obama attack Iran, allow Israel to attack Iran or let Iran, G-d forbid, acquire nuclear weapons? In the next six to nine months these questions will get plenty of play in the media. How much pressure can be brought to bear on the

president by a Republican Congress and many Republican ideologues is a question that remains to be seen. President Obama will be calling his victory over Mitt Romney a “mandate” on all his policies, although it is far from that. As a result, it may be difficult to bring pressure to bear on the president on any issue in the next six to twelve months. If he allows Iran to continue to pursue nuclear weapons (I hope he does not), then at the most critical time of all, Israel’s hands will be tied. This is precisely why I felt Israel should have attacked Iran prior to the election. But despite all the odds, I believe we will be able to replicate what we were able to do the past four years and Israel and the world will be safe.

Joseph M. Frager is a physician and lifelong activist.

How To Develop Good Habits For Success

by Vera Borukhov

T

he book Growth Through Torah, by Zelig Pliskin, explains that in order to rid ourselves of a bad habit, we are required to do thirty days of intensive work. One, two, three or even five days is what most people try and that is simply inadequate. We have to put ourselves through thirty days of intensive work.

Is this doable? Yes. I have tried it and so have my students. I wanted to stop wasting time on Facebook, therefore, I committed to not logging into my Facebook account through my laptop for the next thirty days. I would only look at it through my phone. There were days that I was really tempted to log on, but I reminded myself of the promise I made and stayed

away. During my third week, the urge to log on diminished.

I was able to replace the Facebook time with other activities such as reading and organizing my room or desk.

One of my students shared with me that she had a bad habit of calling out in class.

In order to get rid of this habit, she had her friend poke her

Work With Us!

every time she tried to call out.

As a result of the poke, she would raise her hand and hold off on calling out. This friend poked her for two months and she was able to successfully rid herself of this bad habit.

Right now I am working with a family that wants their child to get rid of his habit of spending an excessive amount

of hours watching television and playing video games. We will intensively work on decreasing the hours spent on TV and video games by replacing that activity with learning.

I will be giving this child extra assignments to improve his writing, reading, and vocabulary. In his book, People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It, Larry Winget mentioned that in order to break a bad habit you have to replace it with a good habit.

So there we go. To break a bad habit, replace it with a good habit, and then put yourself through thirty days of in-

tensive work; the new good habit will become second nature for you. For example, if you want to say more positive things and less negative things, tell yourself that for the next thirty days- and only for the next thirty days- anytime you have an urge to say something negative you say something positive instead.

Leave yourself with these questions: What has your experience been like with regards to replacing bad habits with good habits? Why might have you succeeded or not succeeded?

Vera Borukhov is an educator, founder of Veracity Learning Inc., mother, advocate for our children, motivator and a dreamer.

She is happy to address your questions regarding helping our children succeed in school and in life. E-mail your questions to vera@veracitylearning.com and she will address them here in the next issue.

SEEKING MOTIVATED INDIVIDUAL FOR SALES POSITION AT THE QJL Call Yaakov at 917-549-6145 or email Queensjewishlink@gmail.com 917.549.6145 • QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

43

Penning Political

A Great Night For Queens Democrats, But Was It Good For Queens Jews?

by Manny Behar

Q

ueens Democrats had a lot to celebrate on Election Night.

President Obama carried Queens overwhelmingly, with close to 80% of the vote, while Democrats swept the local elections. In the two most hotly elected races, State Assembylmember Grace Meng won a landslide 2-1 victory over City Councilmember Dan Halloran in the race for Congress, while State Senator Joe Addabbo won a surprisingly easy re-election victory over City Councilmember Eric Ulrich.

I’ll discuss the results of the Presidential election in my next column. For now, I want to focus on the results of the local elections and what they mean for our community.

I have very high hopes for our new Congresswoman, Grace Meng. As a Democrat, we can expect her to follow the Democratic Party line on most issues. Given President Obama’s overwhelming victory in the district that is what she should do. But she has staked out an independent position on Israel. Meng rejects the idea of using the 1967 borders as a starting point for peace negotiations, clearly supports a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and says there can be no two-state solution until the Palestinians recognize Israel and meet its security needs. On Iran, representative-elect Meng believes the United States needs to draw a clear red line beyond which Iran will not be allowed to go.

In short, her positions on Israel are pretty much in line with those of Bibi Netanyahu.

Having travelled to Israel with her husband and seeing what Israelis go through on a day to day basis, Grace understands that Israel is on the front line of democracy. As a product of a parochial school education and a person with a deep religious faith she understands the strong spiritual connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

Grace Meng was unable to complete her education in parochial school because her parents could not afford the tuition. This gives her a strong insight into the concerns of yeshiva families who are paying taxes to support the public school system while paying high tuition to send their children to yeshiva. She is committed to work with our community to make sure that yeshiva families are able to educate their children according to the dictates of their conscience.

One of the lessons of the recent Presidential election is the growing importance of the Asian and Latino vote. Having the first Chinese American member of Congress from Queens at the forefront of the fight for Jewish causes can be an enormous benefit to our community.

44

There is a proud tradition of non-Jewish elected officials being at the forefront of Jewish causes. On the national scene, the late Senator Henry M. Jackson was Israel’s leading supporter in Congress and the elected official most responsible for the generating support for Soviet Jewry. In our

feated.

To be sure, this is not a devastating blow.

State Senator Addabbo did have strong support within the Jewish community.

He has been attentive to our needs in the past and will be in the future.

Over the past two years, the Republican

Given the political and demographic realities of Queens, blind allegiance to the Republican Party is a road to political irrelevance for our community, leaving us without a voice when the decisions that impact on our lives are made own neighborhood, Councilmember Jim Genarro has been someone we could always look to for meeting the needs of our local community, from funding our institutions to buying our chametz on Pesach. I am confident that Grace Meng will follow in this proud tradition.

Grace Meng’s victory in the Congressional race was widely expected. State Senator Joe Addabbo’s easy re-election victory in a race that most people expected to be close came as a surprise. The lines in the 15th State Senate District were drawn by the Republican leadership of the State Senate to maximize the chance of electing a Republican.

The race for the State Senate in our area was also the best opportunity for opponents of gay marriage to show their strength on this issue. It was a vote of the State Senate that legalized same sex marriage in New York and it will take a vote of the State Senate to overturn it. Voters in our district had a clear choice on the issue. State Senator Addabbo voted against gay marriage before he voted for it, claiming that the job of a legislator is to reflect the views of his constituents and that he took a poll on the issue. Councilmember Ulrich took a clear stand against gay marriage saying that real leadership is to take a stand on moral issues and being willing to take the consequences.

On the issue of tuition tax credits or vouchers for yeshiva families, Councilmember Ulrich took a clear position in favor in favor of them. State Senator Addabbo, who had the strong support of the United Federation of Teachers, the biggest obstacle to support for yeshivas, only said that he was willing to consider it.

Given the importance of these two issues, a number of leading Rabbonim and askonim actively supported Councilmember Ulrich.

In a district drawn to favor a Republican and which included most of the Torahobservant Jews in Queens, the candidate who opposed gay marriage, supported aid to yeshivas and had the support of many Rabbonim and askonim was soundly de-

leadership of the State Senate has led the way in securing funding for school busses for yeshivas, TAP grants for yeshiva students and exemption from the MTA tax for our schools. Whether they will be in a position to do so in the future is still up in the air. As I write this column, the question of which party will control the State Senate may well rest in the hands of a newly elected State Senator from Brooklyn.

As part of their effort to maintain control of the State Senate, the State Senate Republicans drew a “super Jewish” district that included most of the Orthodox Jewish communities of Boro Park and Flatbush. Given the increasing tendencies of Torah-observant Jews to vote Republican, they thought this would help cement their control. Simcha Felder, who represented the area in the City Council for many years, ran as a Democrat and won handily over State Senator David Storobin, who won a hotly-contested special election for the State Senate earlier this year.

This result proved that Torah-observant Jews will vote for an Orthodox Jewish Democrat who proudly shares our values.

Throughout the campaign, Felder made clear that he is more loyal to his constituents than to a party label and that his support for Democratic control of the State Senate is not a sure thing. At this point, it appears that Felder’s vote may well determine which party controls the State Senate. Look for Felder to drive a hard bargain - not for himself, but for the benefit of our community. He will make sure that the urgent needs of our community and especially our yeshivas are addressed.

I worked with Simcha Felder when he was a member of the City Council. He is a man of impeccable character and integrity and deeply committed to the things we believe in. He is also a highly skilled politician who knows how to use the system to deliver results for the community. Having him in a position to determine control of the State Senate may well be the best result for our community on Election Day. Over the past few elections, the de-

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gree of religious observance has become a wedge issue in American politics. Exit polls showed that people who attend church frequently supported Romney in large numbers, while others supported Obama. This has been mirrored in the Jewish community where Orthodox Jews voted heavily for Romney while secular Jews tended to vote for Obama.

What the results of Election Night show is that while our community is tending to vote more Republican, Queens as a whole is becoming more heavily Democratic.

Based on demographics this is a trend that is likely to continue.

I have always argued against blind allegiance to either political party. To be effective, we need to judge each race for office individually and vote for the better candidate in that race.

Given the political and demographic realities of Queens, blind allegiance to the Republican Party is a road to political irrelevance for our community, leaving us without a voice when the decisions that impact our lives are made.

The Queens Democratic Party has a strong history of working closely with our community. It was a former leader of the Queens Democratic Party who secured the permits to build the eruvin and mikvaoth in our community and for Hatzolah to operate citywide. It is the Queens Democratic Party that produced Orthodox Jewish elected officials like Mike Simanowitz, Philip Goldfeder and David Weprin, who have devoted their careers to meeting the needs of our community.

Politics is the art of the possible. We have to live with the reality that Queens is a diverse borough and that there are many people whose interests and concerns are very different from ours. Our best bet is to work with both parties and with people from different communities.

We cannot and must not compromise on our principles. But we do need to realize that we cannot expect to prevail on every issue. We have to play the hand we are dealt and try to get the best result for our community. In the course of that, we should expect that people who are equally committed to our ideals and values will disagree about how to achieve our goals.

That it is as it should be. Principled debate is not only the essence of democracy, it is a basis of Torah as well. If all the Tanaaim and Amoraim had agreed with each other, it would take far less than seven years to complete the cycle of Daf Yomi.

The election is over but the debate will continue. Let us make sure that we conduct it as a machloket leshaym shamayim, knowing that despite whoever wins on any given Election Day, our ultimate fate is in the hands of the true Melech Malchei Hamelochim.

November 15, 2012

rabbinical seminary of america

˝‫ישיבת רבינו ישראל מאיר הכהן זצוק˝ל בעל ה˝חפץ חיים‬

Dr. Allen Goldstein

dr. raymond feinberg z”l chesed award

79

th

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45

One Of The Secrets Behind A Successful Yeshiva

by Feige Lloyd

T

he Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion school year is off to a strong start and stop and start again as the High Holy Days punctuate the early weeks of school. Happily the spirit and tone in the building is percolating with the joy of disciplined teaching and the effortful learning. A number first-time visitors have independently commented on how pleasantly and smoothly the school works, whether in the classroom or in the hallways or on the playground. What is the secret? Many want to know! This of course is not by accident. Extraordinary dedication on the part of the entire teaching staff and the administration shows up every day from the first day of school.

Although it is not the work of one person nor can it be, we would like to take the time to feature one individual from the Sha’arei Zion team in this article. A steadying figure and a new fixture on display, is the presence of the new principal at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion, Rabbi Label Lam standing at the gate every morning greeting each child with a smile as they disembark the cars, vans, and buses to enter school.

Rabbi Label Lam, a former collegiate

athlete and a poet, is no stranger to the greater Queens community. His powerful lectures for the Jewish Heritage Center retreats over the last decade have earned him a solid reputation as a man with profound messages and superior communication skills. Rabbi Lam has been a featured guest speaker at many Chazaq events times and many others know him from classes and seminars and weekend getaways with Arachim, Foundations, Hashevaynu, and Ohr Nava just to name a few.

Rabbi Label Lam’s journey to the Yeshiva Sha’rei Zion began more than twenty-seven years ago when, while newly married, he was taking his Semicha tests with Rabbi Avraham Pam ztl, and at the same time pursuing his Masters in Jewish Education. Prior to that time Rabbi Lam was a popular English teacher in a number of Monsey yeshivas while he was still a bochur - an unmarried ye-

Rabbi Label Lam captivating the audience at a CHAZAQ Event shiva student. Shortly after graduating, Rabbi Lam began his career teaching all grades and Torah subjects in a number of smaller outreach day schools all while spearheading adult education classes for the parents.

After a while Rabbi Lam was recruited by Ohr Somayach International to be involved with targeted learning programs that put him in contact with top businessmen throughout the New

It’s no wonder he is sought after by couples and individuals seeking advice and counsel on matters of Shalom Bayis, child rearing, and education. We are excited at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion to have someone of Rabbi Label Lam’s stature and with Rabbi Lam’s credentials as the principal of our school. Rabbi Lam will be beginning a regular series of lectures and workshops on developing and sharpening

Rabbi Lam organized a prisoner visitation program that lasted for more than eight years. It was there that Rabbi Lam claims he developed his “voice” and talent for speaking publically because he had a “captive audience” to practice on

Rabbi Label Lam speaking at the Yeshiva Sha’are Zion Dinner

46

York Metropolitan area and which launched him summers and winters to Israel where he lead American college students on many powerfully impactful Jewish identity journeys.

At that time, Rabbi Lam began to involve himself and he organized a prisoner visitation program that lasted for more than eight years. It was there that Rabbi Lam claims he developed his “voice” and talent for speaking publically because he had a “captive audience” to practice on. Later on, Rabbi Lam became a fulltime lecturer for the Arachim seminars in New York, California, Texas, South Africa and many other places. Rabbi Lam cofounded a new organization, Foundations for Jewish Learning, which crafted a curriculum for many creative seminars.

A father of ten children and a grandfather too, Rabbi Label Lam has been writing a Dvar Torah for Torah.Org for the past 14 years, which is emailed to more than 15,000 weekly subscribers.

His lectures are amongst the most popularly viewed on Torahanytime.

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parental skills that will begin shortly after the Chagim.

At the intro to “back to school night,” Rabbi Lam made reference to a discussion he had with a certain Gadol B’Yisrael, that when enquiring about Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion’s financial status, was pleased beyond words to hear that a high percentage of the budget is carried by student tuition. Rabbi Lam admits to being puzzled and mystified by the response but later figured out that this great rabbi was extremely happy to hear that the community had “come of age”- matured to the level where the people not only want a quality Torah education for their children but they are willing to pay for it even if it stretches them beyond their limits. This is a powerful sign that this community is not only going to “make it” but is going to “make it big!” Each teacher at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion enters the school daily with an awareness of the seriousness of the mission with which they have been charged and entrusted by the parents and the community, and that’s the real secret!

November 15, 2012

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Community - Recent Happenings TBT Queens: A Yeshiva For Working People

S

everal years ago, Rabbi Henoch Lebowitz zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim here in Queens, dreamed of starting a program where a working ben Torah could connect to Torah: a yeshiva for working people. That dream was realized when Tiferes B’nei Torah - TBT - was born.

Originally created as an offshoot of Rabbi Bentzion Shafier’s “The Shmuz” program more than six years ago, TBT branches were established in Monsey, Brooklyn, and right here in Queens.

TBT Queens has since matured into an independent “mini-yeshiva,” a vibrant place of Torah study and personal growth for working bnei Torah.

One of TBT Queens’ most popular programs is the kollel boker, an early morning gemara study group that meets weekdays in Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills. Beginning at 6:00 a.m. (5:50 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays) and followed by shachris at 6:30 (6:20 on Mondays and Thursdays), those who attend the kollel boker are extremely dedicated to integrating Torah study into their busy lives.

In a few days, TBT’s kollel boker will be completing maseches Brachos. Rabbi Aryeh Goldman has been leading the kollel boker for two years. “We have

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been studying Brachos in depth for several years now. Finishing it is a real big accomplishment.” Although Rabbi Goldman’s busy schedule won’t allow him to continue leading the kollel boker (he serves on the hanhala of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim), he will continue giving a daily gemara shiur after shachris for TBT. “What makes TBT so special is that it allows working people - people that have busy lives and hectic schedules - to study Torah and focus on personal development. It has that yeshiva atmosphere that so many working people want in their lives.”

TBT has had a strong impact on its members and their families. “When I first joined the kollel boker, I wasn’t sure I would be able to maintain the early morning schedule,” says Dr. Richard Gewanter, a TBT regular. “More than six years later I am happy to say that I have made two siyumim with TBT, and I am looking forward to starting the next masechta. TBT has had a tremendous impact on my family, as well. My kids know that Daddy wakes up at 5:30 a.m. each day to go to his shiur. Seeing that shows them an example of the importance of daily Torah study in our lives.”

“TBT is more than just a shiur that serves great coffee,” adds Dr. Gewanter. “The kollel boker is a great group of like-minded individuals who share a desire to grow spiritually even though we are no longer full-time yeshiva stu-

dents. We have become good friends, and gain great chizuk from each other.»

Aside from the kollel boker, TBT Queens has several other programs, including halacha classes, as well as social programs. TBT Queens’s new director, Rabbi Nachum Meth, has broader goals. “We are planning to increase TBT Queens programming and make it even more accessible for working people. We are looking to start new classes on different topics and at different times, so that there is an opportunity for even more people to connect to Torah.”

After the kollel boker completes Brachos, they plan on starting maseches Beitza. “Starting a new masechta is a great time to join the program,” pointed out Rabbi Meth, who will be leading the shiur. “A new masechta is a fresh new start, and that is generating a lot of excitement for TBT in general.”

For more information about TBT Queens, contact Rabbi Nachum Meth at 718-591-3398.

Yeshiva Kesser Torah Holds Annual Gala Melave Malka

by Susie Garber

Y

eshiva Kesser Torah sponsored its annual melave malka on motzei Shabbos November 10, at Young Israel of Queens Valley.

Alumni of the yeshiva, community rabbonim, and community members all enjoyed the Rosh HaYeshiva’s original inspiring melodies and a moving shiur from Rabbi Paysach Krohn.

The warm and friendly atmosphere of Yeshiva Kesser Torah permeated the air as new and old friends greeted each other. The guests of honor were Aaron and Batsheva Rothberg. The dinner chairman was Mark Saleman.

Rabbi Yaakov Bergman, Mora d’Asra of Bais Medrash D’Kew Gardens Hills, spoke on behalf of the honorees, Aaron and Batsheva Rotherg. He mentioned their good middos and how they are so positive and always ready to help out with the shul and the community in any way they can. He also spoke about the Yeshiva, which keeps the light of Torah going all hours of the day and night, with minyanim available at so many times and the warm welcoming atmosphere of the shul.

Next, Aaron Rothberg expressed his hakaros hatov to the Rosh HaYeshiva and the Rebbetzin. He said that we as a community have an obligation to help and support the Yeshiva.

Rabbi Rosenblatt and his choir, accompanied by Mr. Michael Septimus,

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filled the room with stirring music.

Rabbi Krohn related the important contributions of Yeshiva Kesser Torah to our community and how the Rav and Rebbetzin became like parents to their talmidim. He shared many inspiring stories and concluded with the idea that everyone should find a big challenge they have faced and use it in a positive way to encourage others going through a similar challenge - to let them know they can get through it.

Everyone left inspired and humming Rabbi Rosenblatt’s beautiful melodies.

First Shiur HaChodesh Takes Place At Etz Chaim Shiurim for Women by Women

by Susie Garber

T

he first Shiur HaChodesh of the new year took place at Congregation Etz Chaim on Wednesday evening, October 25. The shul was packed with women eager to hear the speaker, Professor Smadar Rosensweig, who has delivered the opening shiur for the past seven years. She spoke with her inimitable enthusiasm and warmth about the Destiny Narrative in Sefer Bereishis. Professor Smadar taught that the Avos are the driving force in Am Yisrael. Yaakov Avinu received a blessing. Every blessing sets destiny throughout Jewish history.

Professor Smadar focused on the idea of redirecting our personality to change our destiny. She modeled this idea with Shevet Levi. Levi received a tochachah, a rebuke, from Yaakov. Shimon did not redirect his personality, while Levi did redirect his personality and he thereby changed his destiny. She then explained the differences between Levi and Shimon. Shimon and Levi were named brothers of Dinah in the Chumash as this, according to Rashi, showed their feelings of brotherhood. Shimon and Levi each took his sword and they killed all the males of the city of Shechem. It is noteworthy, she said, that this occurred right after Esav received the blessing of the sword. This highlights the idea that they behaved like Esav and not like Yaakov. They were defining themselves by using Esav’s derech. The Torah details that they behaved like Esav, taking booty and capturing women. The Torah shows that they destroyed the city beyond what was necessary, and this, according to Rashi, is why Yaakov Avinu was so upset. Professor Smadar pointed out CONTINUED ON P. 53

November 15, 2012

Community - What’s New In School Bnos Malka Academy

Bnos Malka Academy Holds Successful Open House

O

n Tuesday November 6th, Bnos Malka held its annual open house. The prospective parents got a taste of what makes Bnos Malka Academy so special right from the moment they arrived until it was time to go.

Each visitor received a warm, personal welcome from each member of the administration led by the Menahel, Rabbi Michael Wiechselbaum. The warmth continued on as the Bnos Malka Academy PA was on hand to greet visitors and provide delicious refreshments. Despite gasoline being in short supply, and time missed from work the previous week, the open house received a wonderful turn out and those who turned out received a wonderful, small appreciation gift.

Rabbi Weichselbaum led an enlightening interactive presentation for the would-be parents that explained just what has made Bnos Malka Academy’s approach so successful and unique. Rabbi Weichselbaum highlighted all the special qualities Bnos Malka Academy has to offer such as: unparalleled school wide programming, educational philosophy designed for understanding as opposed to memorizing, dedication to midos tovos, and attention to each student as an individual. Parents were then broken into three groups and led on a tour to see the school in action.

Visitors came away feeling assured they would be sending their children to a makom Torah with high academic standards as well as a loving, nurturing, and safe school that provides important life skills and prepares students for success in high school and beyond.

If you would like to learn more about Bnos Malka Academy, please contact our office to set up a personal tour. Phone: 718268-2667 email: Office@bnosmalka.org

Democracy in Action

W

hile the entire country was busy wrapping up the last few days of the election, Bnos Malka Academy decided to exercise their democratic rights by conducting their own presidential election. Since the beginning of the school year, all of the classes in grades K-8 have been learning about the elections in specially designed age appropriate curricula. Some of the lower grades spent time learning about the basics, such as the names of the candidates and their running mates, where the president lives and what the president does, while the older grades went into much more detail. Topics included the voting process, the Electoral College, how Congress and the Senate work,

and the platforms of both major political parties. The entire unit ended with a school-wide mock election. Students received a ballot and went into a voting booth to ensure their ballot stayed secret! After all the votes were tallied, the

winner of Bnos Malka’s mock election was Mitt Romney, with 243 votes. President Obama received 27 votes, while interestingly, there was one write-in for John McCain. The students were eager to be a part of the national excitement of voting, and learned a lot about how the democratic process works. They are eagerly looking forward to next year’s mayoral election, when they will have the chance to voice their opinions about whole wheat bread for lunch!

conference in which they were treated to an inspiring shiur followed by a lively discussion, all over the phone. The reaction to this “storm” of Torah by phone was most enthusiastic. “It is amazing how much the administration of YCQ values the uninterrupted stream of Torah study for its talmidim and applies modern technology to make it happen,” said one pleased parent. Rabbi Mark Landsman extended heartfelt hakarat hatov to the numerous rebbeim and morot who volunteered to provide a meaningful and entertaining Torah time for our students.

“This is just one example of the dedication and devotion of YCQ’s wonderful staff to our talmidim,” he said.

The following rebbeim and morot graciously participated in the well-received teleconferences: First Grade, Morah Shira Fendel; Second Grade, Morah Reut Berkowitz; Third Grade, Morah Shoshana Kadosh; Fourth Grade Boys, Rabbi Shmuel Soffer; Fourth Grade Girls, Morah Rivka Weinberg; Fifth Grade, Rabbi Joshua Rohr; Sixth Grade Girls, Morah Michelle Farbman; Sixth Grade Boys, Rabbi Aloni Russek; Seventh Grade Girls, Morah Shoshana Fischman; Seventh Grade Boys, Rabbi Ephraim Bernstein; Eighth Grade Girls, Morah Alyssa Schussheim; Eighth Grade Boys, Rabbi Chaim Pearl; Eighth Grade Science, Mrs. Ellen Orlanski

YCQ

Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion

YCQ Uses Modern Technology To Continue Torah Learning Despite Storm

A

t Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ), the study of Torah is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. Although YCQ’s 900 talmidim and talmidot were not able to come to Yeshiva to study Torah during Hurricane Sandy, thanks to the coordination of Rabbi Mark Landsman, Menahel, and the ingenuity of Rabbi Moshe Hamel, Assistant Principal, the Yeshiva brought Torah right to the students’ homes. On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 30-31, each student from grades one through eight was encouraged to dial in to one of the Yeshiva’s rebbeim or morot of their grade for a tele-

Learning The Torah Phrase Of The Week

T

he Pitgam Hashavua - Torah phrase of the week - for this week is Chaverim Kol Yisroel - all Jews are friends! The rabbi went around telling a special story about this Pitgam. A man was once stranded on the highway with a kippa on his head. Many Jews stopped to help him. After a few minutes they found out that this man was not Jewish so they asked him why he was wearing a kippa. The man answered, “My mother taught me I should always have one of these beany things nearby, and when I am stranded, put it on my head.”

We learn from here that when a Jew is in need, other Jews (even those who do not even know him) will come to his aid. The rav also gave the boys the number of Chaverim International, (718-7055000), so if they ever need a hand they have someone to call. The boys repeated this Pitgam 101 times and even repeated it as a group during lunchtime.

6th Grade Test And Trip To Chofetz Chaim

R

abbi Ephraim Ben Mordechai and the 6th grade had an exciting, accomplishment-filled week.

They endured an hour and half oral test from Rabbi Label lam on all aspects of

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the oral law. They showed mastery of seventeen sections of lessons loaded with important facts and historical and technical information about the structure and function of the Talmud. As a reward for this milestone, the 6th grade went on the Sha’arei Zion bus to Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, where they were met by one of the Roshei HaYeshiva, Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt. Rabbi Grunblatt told the students a story about how Hillel was thirsty for Torah and how every detail of Torah is exciting and important beyond imagination. The Rosh HaYeshiva greeted all the boys and handed them the Gemaras they will now be using for the rest of the year. Of course, pizza was ordered for a special lunch and now the boys are really prepared to learn Gemara!

BYQ

BYQ Students Assist Sandy Victims With ‘Kids To Kids Connect’

B

ais Yaakov of Queens students discovered the depths of others’ feelings this week. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, they returned to school last Thursday. Happy to be back in routine, they began to open up to one another with regard to how they spent their days, downed trees, the loss of power and who was expected as guests for Shabbos. Upon their return to school, after hearing many stories around the Shabbos table, students approached the administration with requests to get involved with help. The school, as suggested by Achiezer, started collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste and more.

Boxes were filled, but the students wanted to do more, to connect with other children and let them know how much they care. In response, they decided to begin ‘Kids to Kids Connect,’ with the first project delivered erev Shabbos.

Each student and many staff members made personal donations to help defray the costs. The administrative staff, including Mrs. Somerstein, Mrs. Bergman and Mrs. Reisbaum, as well as additional staff, Mrs. Acker and Mrs. Abramchik, packed ‘kits’ for each class. Students hand packed Shabbos packages of sweet treats “to help make Shabbos a little sweeter” and added messages on cards to show how much they care. The treats will go to children directly affected by the hurricane. Nearly 1000 beautifully wrapped packages were delivered to Shor Yoshuv, the hub of Achiezer activity.

One student said, “ When we got back to school on Monday, I heard friends who live on Long Island went away for Shabbos. They had no light, heat, and some had been flooded. I didn’t realize how lucky we were in Queens until everyone started to open up with their stories. We just had to do something to help!”

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Community - What’s New In School

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The administration offered guidance and arranged for deliveries of goodies to the school. Every child participated and made cards and packages. What started as a small feeling of despair turned into a great feeling of compassion, and the pride they felt in their actions made the experience more than one learns from books. Rabbi Mordechai Gewirtz, dean, added, “ At BYQ we place enormous emphasis on middos tovos. Unfortunately, our Talmidos had a very special opportunity to turn that learning into practice and really demonstrate their Ahavas Yisroel.” The administration and staff applaud the empathy and care of their girls as they practice “lilmod laasos.” It is inspiring and uplifting that their true curriculum is Torah with Derech Eretz, and that each student has achieved honors.

BYQ Hosts Magen “Safety Kid” Program

R

ecently, Bais Yaakov hosted a mini-school. Magen New York, which brings the “Safety Kid” program to 6 Yeshivos in Queens, began this year’s school presentations

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at Bais Yaakov of Queens! On Sunday, the founders of Magen, N.Y., Mrs. Surel Goldfinger and Mrs. Aviva Hoch, coordinated the program at Bais Yaakov where eight new presenters were trained. Following the intense training, Safety Kid volunteers entered the ‘trenches’ and visited all students in their classrooms, in small, comfortable groupings, to discuss the importance of safety. All classes from Kindergarten through fourth grade participated in the learning, which included student participation and an opportunity for discussion about their concerns. As an added feature, this year, Bais Yaakov is a pioneer as the first yeshiva in Queens to invite Safety Kid into fifth grade classrooms! The administration was concerned about maintaining what they learned fifth graders to learn and reinforce how to keep themselves safe!

We are proud to host this group of volunteers who are helping our community stay safe.

Remember your ABCs girls: Ask For Help! Bring a Friend! Check First! Do Tell! Explore the Internet Safely!

November 15, 2012

Community - Recent Happenings CONTINUED FROM P. 50

that we see many examples in Tanach where B’nei Yisrael did not take booty.

After Avraham Avinu defeated the four kings, he wouldn’t take, he said, even a shoelace, and the sin of Shaul HaMelech was that he took booty. Yaakov relates to Shimon and Levi that he had a fine reputation, but now they muddied the waters. Yaakov Avinu states that they killed with their anger so he is cursing their anger. He is going to divide them up among B’nei Yisrael.

Professor Smadar taught that Sefer Bereishis teaches us about broth-

erhood and redemption. It was disappointing that in Sefer Bamidbar Zimri ben Salu, the Nasi of Shevet Shimon, joins Kozbi vas Tzur of Midian in the Shittim at Baal Peor. Ironically, tz’nius was one of the things Shimon fought to preserve for his sister Dinah. It is interesting to note that Pinchas, from the tribe of Levi, is the one who spears Kozbi vas Tzur. So here we see that Levi changes. In Sefer Sh’mos, no names are identified, because the Torah wants to emphasize the tribe of Levi. It states that a “man of Levi” took a wife of Levi.

The professor continued by saying

that Lot was involved in z’nus, immorality, but Ruth, who was from Moav, transformed and did a tikun for their ideology. She shared other examples of people in Tanach who fixed something from previous generations and changed their destiny. Moshe went out to his brethren and he killed with his mouth to stand up for justice. He fixed what Shimon and Levi did in Sefer Bereishis when they killed with the sword. Also, the brothers were distant emotionally when Yosef cried from the pit. Moshe, a levi, fixed this later when he demonstrated compassion for the suffering of his brothers. She noted

that everything Moshe did was a tikun for what Levi did in Sefer Bereishis.

The professor taught that we see how Shevet Levi changes its destiny. Levi uses Yaakov’s brachah in a constructive way with a resulting change. Leviim are the ones who become the Torah teachers; the Hashmoneans were from Shevet Levi and they fought and saved us from desecrating Hashem’s name in the story of Chanukah.

In our lives we need to use our strength in a positive way. We all left the shiur inspired to make positive changes to grow and change our destiny.

Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein Speaks For CHAZAQ In Forest Hills

Rabbi Lazer Brody Captivates Audience In Kew Gardens Hills At CHAZAQ Event

O

O

n Sunday night, November 4th, CHAZAQ and the Beth Gavriel Center presented a special event featuring renowned lecturer Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein, who is the founder of Ohr Naava Women’s Torah Center in Flatbush.

Hundreds of men and women packed the Beth Gavriel Community Center in Forest Hills to hear the inspirational lecture. For information on future CHAZAQ events, please call 718-285-9132, email info@Chazaq.org or visit www.CHAZAQ.org.

n Tuesday night, November 6th, CHAZAQ presented yet another special event featuring renowned lecturer Rabbi Lazer Brody, who is the English voice of the Renowned Rav Shalom Arush from Breslev Israel. Hundreds of men and women filled the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills to hear the inspirational lecture. For information on future CHAZAQ events, please call 718-285-9132, email info@Chazaq.org or visit www.CHAZAQ.org.

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Looking for social studies teacher for 6th grade in local boys Yeshiva.

Two periods from 2:00 to 3:30.

Great opportunity and room for growth! Email

facultyposition2012@gmail.com 917.549.6145 • QueensJewishLink@gmail.com

53

Saturday

Fri - Sat

The Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills will host a Scholar in Residence Weekend with Rabbi J.J. Shachter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and Senior Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University. Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, 70-11 150th Street, Flushing. For more information about the times and topics of his talks, call 718-261-9723.

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Yeshiva Ketana of Queens will hold its Annual Melaveh Malka at Congregation Shaare Tova, 82-33 Lefferts Blvd, Kew Gardens. For more information, contact agreenberg@yeshivaketana.com

At 5:00 p.m., the Rabbinical Seminary of America will hold its 79th Annual Dinner and Chag Hasmicha at Terrace on the Park, 5211 111th Street, Flushing. For more information, contact dinner@rabbinical.org or call 718-269-4700.

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At 8:00 p.m., the Millinery Center Synagogue (1025 Avenue of the Americas bet. 38th and 39th Streets) will hold an event for singles featuring nutritionist Reb Yitzchak Ring and author and poet Gabrielle Struass with music by Efraim Shwab Band and Yaaron Chanukah. Light refreshments. $10 donation. For more information, contact Millinerysyng@mail.com or call 646-262-5061.

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For more information and reasonable rates, contact Yaakov at 917-549-6145

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Yeshiva Madreigas HaAdam will hold its Bar Mitzvah Dinner Celebration at the Electric Industry Building, Jewel Avenue & Parsons Boulevard, Kew Gardens Hills. For more information, call

718-705-8803.

DECEMBER 2012 Saturday

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The Jewish Heritage Center of Queens and Long Island will hold its Annual Queens Chinese Auction. For more information, call David Kaye at 718- 575-3100.

At 8 p.m., Chevi Garfinkel will speak to women and girls at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, 147-02 73rd Avenue. For more information please call Adina Katz at 718-544-2993 or contact Rifka Starkman at rs@starkman.com

Sunday

Friday

at 6:00 p.m. Havurat Yisrael will hold a Friday night dinner for singles, couples, families at Havurat House, 68-60 Austin Street, #7, Forest Hills. $25 per person.

For reservations, contact (by November 13) hyoffice18@yahoo.com or call 718-2615500.

Sunday

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Sunday

Monday

On seven Monday evenings beginning November 12, the Bais Yaakov of Queens Parents Association will host a “Self Parenting” workshop in Kew Gardens Hills.

Led by Perl Abramovitz, the workshop will focus on caring for one’s own needs so that one can have better relationships with others and a deeper connection to Hashem. Cost is $175. For more information, contact sara.pacht@gmail.com (indicate Perl in the subject line) or call 718-268-0775.

Saturday

NOVEMBER 2012

From 9:00 a.m.- noon, the National Council of Young Israel, Lev Leytzan’s ElderHearts, the Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates will host a resource fair and program on care giving for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia with presentations by Rabbi Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, Executive VP/Chief Administrative Officer and Professor of Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, NY, and Assistant Rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere and Congregation Anshei Chesed and Rachel Pill, LCSW, a therapist in private practice and co-director of Lev Leytzan’s ElderHearts and a workshop presented by Neal C. Goldberg, Ph.D. and Rachel Pill, L.C.S.W., the founders, and co-directors of ElderHearts.

The program will take place at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, 83-10 188th Street, Jamaica Estates.

For reservations, contact jsteinig@youngisrael.org or call 212-929-1525 x100. Online registration is available at www.youngisrael.org/healing

Tuesday

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TO ADD YOUR EVENT TO OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR, PLEASE EMAIL THE EVENT, DATE/TIME, PLACE, AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION TO: CALENDAR.QJL@GMAIL.COM

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November 15, 2012

The OHEL Tent Remains Strong OHEL Rescues, Shelters and Comforts The Most Vulnerable After Hurricane Sandy

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hile so many are suffering from Hurricane Sandy, the particular needs of individuals with disabilities during such adversity are ever more severe and OHEL continues to meet these needs and those of the wider community, during this time of tremendous challenge.

OHEL’s “tent” is stronger than ever. OHEL residents are safe.

OHEL families are intact.

OHEL’s Rapid Response has mobile mental health teams operating in The Five Towns, Far Rockaway, Bayswater, Belle Harbor, Long Beach, Queens, Teaneck, and other neighborhoods affected by the storm.

OHEL is additionally responding to the many requests for help from schools, shuls, day care centers, senior centers. For immediate assistance please call 888-874-6501 Since the days before the Hurricane hit, OHEL staff have been tirelessly working 24/7 to ensure the safety, stability and continuity of hundreds of individuals with disabilities as well as the emotional well-being of individuals and families throughout the community, despite the challenges and distress their own families may be facing. With phone and computer systems down, OHEL immediately distributed emergency cell phones to staff, to retain communications and ensure that care was not compromised at any time.

Michael, an older adult with disabilities watching the storm erupt from the 20th floor of a high-rise building on Long Island; Miriam, an adult with developmental disabilities in an OHEL residence in Woodmere, and Sara, the young mother of seven in an OHEL Domestic Abuse Shelter in the city, are all part of the OHEL family and are all safe, even as Sandy continues to wreak havoc on our region.

OHEL has ensured that everyone in their care - from children living with foster families, mothers and children in OHEL’s domestic violence shelters, to seniors in residential facilities - has the safe shelter, food, supplies, and care needed during the severe emergency created by hurricane Sandy.

OHEL is managing an exhaustive post-storm effort to ensure the safety of OHEL’s children and families. OHEL’s

Mobile Outreach Crisis Team is active 24/7 visiting families, providing comfort, making assessments and providing trauma-related services.

Evacuated residents are being cared for, food deliveries to residences remain consistent, and while the Elly & Brochie Kleinman Regional Family Center and OHEL Lifetime Care offices in Far Rockaway remain closed due to flooding, counseling services are being made available at Tikvah at OHEL in Brooklyn.

Clothing, recreational and sensory equipment, toys, books and games and of course hot and nutritious kosher meals are being supplied to displaced residents and foster families.

Many of the expenses incurred by OHEL are not reimbursable and OHEL has launched an Emergency Campaign to mitigate losses already estimated at over $500,000 and rising. In just the first two days of the campaign, OHEL secured over $50,000 from a number of OHEL Board Members.

The word’s from one of these benefactors, who is also a parent of a resident from an OHEL Bais Ezra Long Island residence, best personifies the OHEL commitment.

“We continue to be in awe of the staff at the OHEL Bais Ezra home in Arlington and particularly, the house manager Gordon Rich. Gordon was awake for three straight days, first saving people in the community as a firefighter and first-responder and then working with the families of the boys in the home as part of his OHEL responsibilities. Gordon waded through 5 feet of toxic water in a wet suit one night pulling people from their homes at incredible personal risk. He then did everything he could to protect and secure what was left of the OHEL Bais Ezra Arlington Road house. He was cheerful and upbeat despite knowing full well that his own home and personal belongings were destroyed.”

Many residences are now uninhabitable, many out-patient facilities, counseling centers and day habilitation programs are completely flooded and are being relocated from Long Island to Brooklyn. And the cost of providing extra staff and services, programs, and supplies

will remain exorbitant.

Moishe Hellman and Mel Zachter, coPresidents of OHEL, comment that “Gordon’s story only reflects the mesirat nefesh of an entire team of over 1,200 staff and volunteers that never sleeps.“ If you or anyone needs help, please contact OHEL the temporary number of 888-874-6501 (our Some of the OHEL evacuees normal number of 1800-603-OHEL is down) or dy. They will continue to support, comfort and care for our askohel@ohelfamily.org OHEL’s “tent” is stronger than OHEL family members and any ever; it’s unflappable and did other community members not fold during Hurricane San- who need them in the weeks

and months ahead.

You can make a contribution to OHEL’s Emergency Storm Relief Campaign at www.ohelfamily.org/donate.

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November 15, 2012

News Roundup

Jewish Support For Obama Slipped, But Still Strong

J

ewish support for US President Barack Obama slipped in the 2012 presidential race but still far surpassed that earned by Republican Mitt Romney, according to exit polls.

Last Tuesday, 69 percent of Jews cast their ballot for the Democratic candidate as compared to 78% in 2008. Some 30% went for Republican Mitt Romney, up from 22% for the party’s candidate in the last presidential race.

Both parties took comfort in the outcome and used it to bolster their argument about the political orientation of the Jewish community.

“In no way, shape or form was this a narrow victory,” said Democratic pollster Jim Gerstein about the 2012 Jewish vote, which he said was closer to the 2008 results than reflected in the exit polls The Republican Jewish Coalition,

however, argued that this year’s exit poll had to be considered in relation to the 2008 original exit poll number in order to get an accurate comparison.

“If the Democrats want to lower their expectations to make their candidate look better, that’s up to them,” said RJC executive director Matt Brooks.

He maintained that the 8-point increase for the Republican candidate represented “unambiguous inroads into the Jewish community” by the GOP, particularly given what a large percentage jump it represented.

The RJC launched an unprecedented $6.5 million campaign for Jewish votes, targeting swing states with phone calls, mailings, surrogate events and ads.

“I thought we got a good return on the investment we made,” he said.

Gerstein, who did an election night survey of Jewish voters for J Street that found results similar to the exit polls, disputed the efficacy of the RJC efforts, suggesting their efforts to peel away voters over topics like Israel and Iran was misplaced.

According to his survey, only 10% of Jews identified Israel as one of their two main voting issues, and just 2% chose Iran.

The RJC, however, in its own survey found that 77% of Jews surveyed said Israel was an important issue to them compared to only 22% who didn’t. (Jerusalem Post)

Obama Win: What It Means For Your Tax Bill

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he election is finally over, which means the tax clock is ticking.

Congress now has seven weeks until the U.S. economy jumps over the much-dreaded “fiscal cliff,” the combination of tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to go into effect in January 2013.

The Tax Policy Center estimated that a typical U.S. household would face an average of a $3,700 jump in taxes.

The reason is that a bunch of tax cuts are set to expire, including: -- Bush-era tax cuts, which will bring the tax system back to 2001 levels -- President Obama’s 2 percent payroll tax cut holiday -- A series of other temporary tax cuts, including: The enhanced dependent care credit, the enhanced child credit, the enhanced adoption credit, a portion of the enhanced earned-income credit, the repeal of personal exemption phase-out, the repeal of limit on itemized deductions, the enhanced student loan interest deduction; and the exemption for mortgage debt forgiveness.

-- Additionally, the following tax cuts have already expired, but are up for renewal in 2013: AMT adjustment, deduction for state and local sales taxes, IRA charitable donation provision for taxpayers 701/2 and older and Educator’s classroom deduction.

The stakes are high if the economy goes over the fiscal cliff. The Congressional Budget Office said that the U.S. economy would slide into a “significant recession” as a result of the tax increases and spending cuts. The CBO estimates that the economy would shrink by 2.9 percent in the first half of 2013 and by 0.5 percent for the whole year. The Fiscal Cliff would also likely increase the nation’s unemployment rate, from the current 7.9 percent to over 9 percent.

Here is the effect of the fiscal cliff for various earners: Low-middle wage earners: One of the biggest losses for low to middle wage earners will be the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was a refundable credit (meaning that even if your credit exceeds your tax liability, you don’t lose the excess and are entitled to receive any overage as a refund) for married couples filing jointly with 2011 earned income under $49,078 and singles with income under $43,998.

On top of the EIC, the expiration of the “payroll tax holiday,” a 2 percent Social Security tax cut on the first $110,000 in wages, will mean a tax hike of $1,000 per year. Add in the old tax rates that will go back into effect after the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, as well as tax and college credits, and you can see how tax bills for middle and lower taxpayers can pile up.

Upper middle wage earners: In addition to the payroll tax increase, this group faces higher tax brackets. For every dollar above $70,700, the tax rate will be 28 percent, up from 25 percent.

Over $142,700, the rate rises to 31 percent from 28 percent. The current capital gains rate of 15 percent will increase to 20 percent, while the 15 percent dividend tax rate will equal income tax rates.

High wage earners (over $200,000 single, $250,000 married): The two top tax brackets are set to rise from 33 and 35 percent to 36 ($217,450-$388,350) and 39.6 percent (over $388,350) respectively.

In addition to the capital gain and dividend rates, as of 2013, the new health care reform will levy a new surtax of 3.8 percent on capital gains, pushing up the top capital gains rate to 23.8 percent for high-income earners. Finally, the estate tax is also set to increase. Right now, each taxpayer is entitled to a tax credit that wipes out the estate tax due on the first $5,120,000 of an estate. The tax rate above the $5 million threshold is 35 percent. When the Bush tax cuts expire, the exemption will drop to $1 million and the tax rate will increase to 55 percent.

What to do before end of the year: Given these potential tax increases, if you are sitting with ample gains in a taxable account, it could make sense to sell the position and lock-in the 15 percent capital gains rate this year. Even if Congress averts jumping off the fiscal cliff, most economists believe that capital gains rates will likely rise over the next five years. Additionally, this could be a great opportunity to re-balance your portfolio with lower cost assets, like no load index funds. Additionally, if you haven’t reviewed your estate plan in a few years, it’s a good time to dust off the file and make an appointment with your estate attorney. (Money Watch)

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Obama’s Win, Netanyahu’s Loss

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he brief statement included the diplomatic essentials. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu “congratulates President Barack Obama on his election victory” and notes that the strategic alliance between the two countries is “stronger than ever.”

What it didn’t convey was the not-sodiplomatic truth about Netanyahu and the American presidential race: that the Israeli leader preferred Obama’s rival, Mitt Romney, and did a poor job of hiding it in the months leading up to the vote.

Now, as Obama sets his agenda for the next four years, some Israelis believe he will return the favor by taking tougher positions with Netanyahu on things like negotiations with the Palestinians.

Others wonder if Obama might even try to subtly undermine Netanyahu’s reelection campaign. “Netanyahu took a huge risk, one that no other prime minister has ever dared take. He bet on one of the candidates in the American presidential campaign,” said Raviv Drucker, a political analyst for Israel’s Channel 10 News. “But the gamble failed and now he has to contend with the results,” he told Israel’s Army Radio.

Netanyahu, whose relationship with Obama has been fraught since their first summit meeting in 2009, denies having taken sides. Some members of his ruling coalition rushed to make clear they’re not disappointed by Obama’s victory.

“I think he’ll be a very good president for Israel,” said Danny Ayalon, the deputy foreign minister.

But others said quietly that on everything from settlement expansion in the West Bank to military action against Iran’s nuclear program, Romney, the Republican candidate, would have allowed Netanyahu more leeway. The assumption stems in part from the campaign rhetoric of Romney himself, who accused Obama during the campaign of being too harsh with Netanyahu and “throwing Israel under the bus.”

But it also reflected a higher comfort level Netanyahu and other members of his right-wing government have with Republicans over Democrats. “We hope to see a change in Obama’s attitudes towards Israel,” Likud lawmaker Danny Danon said about his reelection. “A

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News Roundup change that shows he understands that he cannot appease the Muslim world and pressure Israel.”

Officials close to Netanyahu have said he laments that his two terms as prime minister have coincided with Democratic presidencies. Netanyahu first served as Israel’s leader from 1996 to 1999, while Bill Clinton was in the White House. He faced heavy pressure from Clinton to accept compromises with the Palestinians stemming from the Oslo peace accords.

One Washington insider said Obama-administration people refer to Netanyahu lightheartedly as the “Republican representative from the state of Israel.”

Obama supporters point to Netanyahu’s embrace of Romney during the candidate’s visit to Israel in August and his harsh criticism of Obama in September over his handling of the nuclear crisis with Iran as examples of Netanyahu’s unseemly involvement in the race.

Drucker, the political analyst, said Obama’s posture ahead of Israel’s Jan. 22 election depended on the country’s political landscape. “Obama will ask himself whether there’s a real rival to Netanyahu in the Israeli election campaign. If he sees one, it could be that in a very subtle, very polite way, he might try to help the rival.”

He said it would be enough for Obama to invite an opponent of Netanyahu’s for a meeting in Washington ahead of the election in order to signal to Israelis voters which candidate the U.S. favors.

Most polls show Netanyahu winning the election and governing for another four years with roughly the same coalition of right-wing and religious parties he presides over now. The picture could change if Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister and political centrist, enters the contest. Analysts believe Obama’s victory raises the chances of Olmert joining the race. (Daily Beast)

Chris Christie: Don’t Blame Me That Romney Lost

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ov. Chris Christie said last Wednesday he is disappointed in Republican Mitt Romney’s defeat and surprised how quickly the presidential race was over Tuesday night but said it’s not time “to look in the rear-view mirror.”

Asked whether he is now eyeing a presidential run four years from now, the nationally prominent Republican governor

said: “I’ve got a job do here in New Jersey.

This is who I am. I love this job.”

Christie was the first governor to endorse Romney and raised millions for him during the campaign. He faces his own gubernatorial re-election campaign next year, but hasn’t said whether he intends to seek a second term.

Christie’s warm words and friendly embrace of President Barack Obama after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the state last week angered conservatives, who wondered aloud where his loyalties were. Obama and Christie visited Atlantic City the day after the storm, which left 2.7 million customers in the state without power and numerous homes damaged or destroyed, displacing thousands.

The first-term governor has been complimentary of both the federal response to the storm and the chief executive leading it.

“I’m a guy who tells the truth all the time,” Christie said after visiting a volunteer fire department on Long Beach Island, which is still under a mandatory evacuation order. “If the president of the United States did something good, I’m going to say he did something good.

“But it doesn’t take away for a minute the fact that I was the first governor in America to endorse Mitt Romney, that I traveled literally tens of thousands of miles for him, raised tens of millions of dollars for him and worked harder than

any other surrogate in America, other than Paul Ryan,” Christie said.

“I’m extraordinarily disappointed,” he added. “I put a lot of time and effort into the Mitt Romney campaign from last October when I went to New Hampshire until my last trip for him the Friday before the storm when I went to North Carolina.”

Christie, 50, commended the president for having “a very good night last night,” and emailed his condolences to Romney. “He knows I am sorry it didn’t work out,” Christie said. “I’ve lost elections. I know how it feels. It hurts.”

Christie said he hopes Romney continues to be a voice in American politics.

He said he expects the country’s 30 or so

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Republican governors to be the party’s “idea leaders” in the years ahead, but declined to predict whether Obama’s second term will see a lessening of partisan gridlock in Washington.

“The president’s got decisions to make about how to conduct himself and how he’ll lead,” Christie said. “I hope he’ll do it differently than he did it the first four years.” (AP)

Limbaugh: “I Went To Bed [Election] Night Thinking We’ve Lost The Country”

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ush Limbaugh, the popular voice of the political right, says he’s genuinely perplexed by the reelection of Barack Obama to the presidency.

“I went to bed last night thinking we’ve lost the country. I don’t know how else you look at this,” Limbaugh said in his post-race analysis.

“Small things beat big things yesterday. Conservatism in my humble opinion did not lose last night. It’s just very difficult to beat Santa Claus. People are not going to vote against Santa Claus, especially when the alternative is being your own Santa Claus,” he continued.

“In a country of children where the option is Santa Claus or work, what wins?”

“Every Obama voter may not be religious, but they believe in Santa Claus. And you know what else they believe about Santa Claus? That Santa Claus doesn’t judge anybody. You’re gonna get your stuff no matter how you behave. You’re gonna get your stuff whether you’re a good guy, bad guy, or a non-entity. Santa Claus isn’t judgmental. In fact, Santa Claus loves you because you have the deck stacked against you.”

Limbaugh said there is no rising to responsibility among the majority of the current U.S. populace.

“There’s just a demand that the gravy train to continue, and we have an administration that’s promising an endless gravy train,” he said.

“Until people understand how big government reduces prosperity for all, they’re going to be fooled by little things, by marketing, by smooth talkers, by faux compassion.”

Limbaugh noted conservative have to face some truths.

“We are outnumbered and we are losing ground. This was not a glitch, this is

November 15, 2012

News Roundup the trend,” he said.

“We’re four years into tyranny winning. And guess what. No matter what happens, it’s Bush’s fault. Obama’s getting a Mulligan. Obama’s getting a doover.”

But while some have suggested the Republican Party abandon some of it principles to appeal to a wider audience, Limbaugh disagreed.

“If there’s one option that hasn’t been tried in a long time, it’s called conservatism with a capital C,” he said. “This was not a conservative campaign.”

“We’re gonna have to go back and redefine how prosperity happens in this country. And conservatism and the Constitution are the best way to make it happen.”

Limbaugh also offered praise for Mitt Romney, calling him “one of the best human beings that I’ve ever met.” (World Net Daily)

Speculation Starts Swiftly On 2016 Presidential Race

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resident Obama’s reelection was less than a day old before the speculation began about who might run to replace him in 2016.

Atop the list for the Democrats: Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and a gaggle of ambitious younger party stars, from Maryland Gov. Martin O’ Malley to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Among Republicans, talk has already turned to Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.).

As was the case in advance of the 2008 election, the field in both parties seems wide open.

Discussions on the Democratic side are dominated by one question: Will Hillary make another run for president?

Even the most plugged-in Washington insiders are unable to answer with any certainty.

On one hand, no one doubts the scale of the secretary of State’s ambition. On the other, the bruises from her 2008 primary loss to the current president were deep and might yet dissuade her from making another bid.

If Clinton did run, she would be an overwhelming favorite. Her husband’s unflagging efforts to help the president’s reelection bid this year have also helped.

Clinton’s strengths are so obvious that, were she to send out the smoke signals indicating that she was going to run, she might discourage any serious rival from competing against her.

“I would imagine that if she decided to run, and decided to run early, she would just clear the field,” said Tobe Berkovitz, a Boston University professor who spe-

cializes in political communication.

But Clinton has reason enough to step back from competing in the 2016 contest. Not only has she has been at the center of national life for 20 years, she will be 69 by the date of the next presidential election.

Without Clinton in the race, there would be no obvious front-runner.

Much speculation of late has swirled around Vice President Biden, with some of the gossip spurred by his own cryptic remarks on the matter.

Biden’s advisers have dropped strong suggestions that the vice president would be interested in becoming the ultimate boss, after eight years as deputy.

Biden himself stoked the speculation as recently as last Tuesday, when he told reporters at his polling place that he did not think that he was voting for himself for the last time.

There are other, younger names rippling through Democratic circles. They include Cuomo, O’Malley (who reportedly left little doubt during private conversations at this year’s party convention that he intended to seek the nomination) and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.).

The Democrats have the advantage — at least for now — that their confidence is sky-high after Obama’s successive presidential victories. The GOP, meanwhile, is almost certain to face a period of infighting.

The speculation about 2016 is already ramping up. But many insiders also offer an obvious caveat: Four years is an eternity in politics. (The Hill)

David Petraeus Resigns As CIA Director

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avid Petraeus, the retired fourstar general renowned for taking charge of the military campaigns in Iraq and then Afghanistan, abruptly resigned Friday as director of the CIA, admitting to an extramarital affair.

The affair was discovered during an FBI investigation, according to officials briefed on the developments. It was unclear what the FBI was investigating or when it became aware of the affair.

Petraeus’ resignation shocked Washington’s intelligence and political communities. It was a sudden end to the public career of the best-known general of the post 9/11 wars, a man sometimes mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate. His service was effusively praised Friday in statements from lawmakers of both parties.

Petraeus, who turned 60 last Wednesday, told CIA employees in a statement that he had met with President Barack Obama at the White House last Thursday and asked to be allowed to resign.

On Friday, the president accepted.

Petraeus told his staffers he was guilty of “extremely poor judgment” in the affair. “Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours.”

He has been married for 38 years to Holly Petraeus, whom he met when he was a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. The president said that CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell would serve as acting director. Morell was the key CIA aide in the White House to President George W. Bush during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

“I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission,” Obama said.

The resignation comes at a sensitive time. The administration and the CIA have struggled to defend security and intelligence lapses before the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three others. It was an issue during the presidential campaign that ended with Obama’s re-election last Tuesday.

For the director of the CIA, being engaged in an extramarital affair is considered a serious breach of security and a counterintelligence threat. If a foreign government had learned of the affair, the reasoning goes, Petraeus or the person with whom he was involved could have been blackmailed or otherwise compromised. Military justice considers conduct such as an extramarital affair to be possible grounds for court-martial.

Petraeus, who became CIA director in September 2011, was known as a shrewd thinker and hard-charging competitor.

Before Obama brought Petraeus to the CIA, the general was credited with salvaging the U.S. war in Iraq. (Chicago Tribune)

Nestle Voluntarily Recalls Nesquik

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estle USA is recalling some of its Nesquik chocolate powder because of a possible salmonella

risk.

The food maker said Thursday that the Nesquik involved was in 10.9-, 21.8- and

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40.7-ounce canisters produced in early October and sold at retailers across the country.

Nestle says it is issuing the recall after its ingredient supplier, Omaya Inc., decided to recall some of the calcium carbonate used in the product due to possible Salmonella contamination. The company says there are no reported illnesses associated with the product.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. It can be lifethreatening in infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

The affected products have a “Best if sold by” date of October 2014.

No other varieties of Nesquik powder are in the recall.

Nestle said that consumers who bought the affected Nesquik products should not use it and can return it for a refund or contact Nestle Consumer Services at (800) 628-7679.

Salmonella recalls are not uncommon in the food industry. Most recently a salmonella outbreak at the country’s largest organic peanut processing plant lead to a major recall of peanut butter and other nut products over the past two months.

(AP)

Capitol Prepares For Obama Inauguration

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he fountain on the West Front has been drained. Complex security plans for managing hundreds of thousands of people are being drawn up.

And, most importantly, the guest of honor has been decided: President Obama.

With Obama’s reelection, hundreds of officials busily planning the 57th Presidential Inauguration have kicked it into high gear.

The historic event is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2013, at the Capitol and has dozens of departments, committees and law enforcement agencies preparing for the masses to flood the city and watch the first black president take his second oath of office.

Obama’s 2009 inauguration drew an

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News Roundup

estimated 1.8 million people, according to an official report issued afterward.

And while some officials say privately they are not expecting the same crowds this time around, they confess it is still too early to tell.

Over the next two months, members of Congress will begin receiving their collective 240,000 tickets to the ceremony, printed by the Government Printing Office, which they can dole out to constituents, staff, family and friends.

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Scalpers and scammers took to the Internet ahead of Obama’s first inauguration, attempting to sell tickets real and fake — some for as much as $20,000 — because they were so coveted. Congress then passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell or attempt to sell inauguration tickets.

The Architect of the Capitol (AoC) has a long list of preparations that it will be working on, including setting up security fencing, running cable for television news networks, setting up trash bins,

placing more than 30,000 chairs, procuring a sound system that will reach down the National Mall, decorating the Capitol with flags and bunting, laying carpet, selecting and hanging pictures in the VIP holding rooms, constructing ramps for compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and readying scores of blankets and ponchos to be distributed, if necessary.

Security plans have also consumed the attention of the U.S. Capitol Police, the Secret Service, the House and Senate sergeant at arms, the FBI and the joint military task force, among other agencies.

For all of the pomp and circumstance, and the intensely intricate planning, lawmakers appear to be excited about the prospect of hosting perhaps the largest political event in the country’s history.

“The inauguration is a celebration of democracy, a time when we pause in full view of the nation and world to inaugurate our new leaders,” said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) at a ceremony hammering the first nail into the inauguration platform two months ago.

“This event reminds us that free elections matter and that it is possible to transfer power peacefully every four years.” (The Hill)

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NYC Gas Rationing Expected To Last Weeks

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as lines will be shorter now- but the crisis is far from over.

Officials in the city and on Long Island have imposed an odd/even license-plate rationing scheme effective this morning to reduce hours-long lines at the pump and help stations hang on to their supplies a little longer.

Police were at gas stations to enforce the new system in New York City and on Long Island Friday. Drivers were out before dawn to line up for their rations.

Police managing the gas lines say there are more gas stations open, which also helped ease congestion.

The new rules - expected to last for weeks - require cars to fuel up on alter-

November 15, 2012

News Roundup

nating days.

If the last number of your plate is odd or the character is a letter, you can get gas only on an odd-numbered date, and even numbers go on even dates.

It took time to impose odd-even gas rationing here because city officials were waiting to “see what the behavior pattern is of motorists,” Mayor Bloomberg said Friday.

Fill-ups by the numbers took effect within the five boroughs, the same restriction Gov. Christie ordered in New Jersey almost two weeks ago to reduce miles-long lines for fuel.

The city’s move comes amid crippling disruptions to the petroleum supply chain by Hurricane Sandy that have closed about 75 percent of New York City’s 800 gas stations, Mayor Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg said it could be weeks before it gets back to normal.

“The best way we think to cut down the lines and help customers buy gas faster, to help gas stations stay open longer and to reduce the potential for disorder is to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas,” he said. (NY Post)

Cuomo: NY Superstorm Damage Could Total $33B

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amage in New York state from Superstorm Sandy could total $33 billion when all is said and done, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last Thursday as the state began cleaning up from a nor’easter that dumped snow, brought down power lines and left hundreds of thousands of new customers in darkness.

A damage forecasting firm had previously estimated that Sandy might have caused $30 billion to $50 billion in economic losses from the Carolinas to Maine, including property damage, lost business and extra living expenses. Cuomo’s estimate will likely push the bill even higher.

A damage estimate of even $50 billion total would make Sandy the second most expensive storm in U.S. history, right behind Hurricane Katrina. Sandy inundated parts of New York City and New Jersey with a storm surge as high as 14 feet, killed more than 100 people and left more than 8.5 million people without power at its peak.

Sandy left more people in the dark than any previous storm, the Department of Energy has said, and it left drivers desperate for gas when it complicated fuel deliveries.

“We are going to have to look at a ground-up redesign,” Cuomo said of the power and fuel supply systems. “With power outages, you paralyze the nation, and chaos ensues.”

In particular, Cuomo noted New York City’s problems, largely due to the surge of seawater that inundated utilities lying 15 to 20 stories below ground.

Last Thursday, a nor’easter that stymied recovery efforts from Sandy pulled away from New York and New Jersey, leaving hundreds of thousands of new people in darkness but failing to swamp shorelines anew, as feared.

From Brooklyn to storm-battered sections of the Jersey shore and Connecticut, about 750,000 customers — more than 200,000 from the new storm — in the region were without power in temperatures near freezing, some after already living for days in the dark. (Yahoo)

Sandy Might Send More Than 250,000 Cars To Scrap Heap

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uperstorm Sandy may consign as many as a quarter of a million new and used cars and trucks to the scrap heap, a loss that could eventually

cording to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. (Chicago Tribune)

Cuomo Fires Emergency Management Chief In Sandy Flap lead to a spike in new auto sales, automakers and dealers said.

So far, automakers have reported that some 16,000 brand new vehicles will have to be scrapped due to the killer storm that flooded coastal areas in New Jersey and New York. Many of them were stored at the port of Newark when Sandy hit.

That figure may grow once the two biggest automakers by U.S. sales, General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co, announce how many vehicles they lost due to Sandy. By last Wednesday, nine days after Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, neither GM nor Ford gave estimates of vehicles that are a total loss.

Sandy, one of the largest storms to strike the United States, left more than 8 million homes and businesses in the Northeast without electricity.

At least 121 people were killed in the storm’s rampage through the Northeast, including 80 in New York and New Jersey.

Some consumers with damaged vehicles may need to replace them with a new car, which automakers have said will boost sales eventually, said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

But, Schienberg added, because of the distress caused by Sandy’s wrath, “Right now, I don’t think car sales are on the top of everybody’s mind.”

Last Thursday, Toyota Motor Corp, No. 3 in U.S. auto sales, said that 30,000 of October industry sales were lost due to less customer traffic or delayed purchases by consumers.

Each of the major automakers said they expected those sales to be recovered later in November or in December.

Six of the leading eight automakers in terms of U.S. sales said that at least 16,000 new vehicles were damaged, and the lion’s share of those will have to be scrapped.

Counting cars in consumer hands increases the total loss estimated to at least 266,000 vehicles.

“We believe that between 100,000 and 250,000 vehicles currently in operation could be removed from used vehicle supply once all is said and done,” said Laurence E. Dixon III, senior analyst with the National Automobile Dealers Association.

That compares with the 325,000 cars flooded during Hurricane Katrina, ac-

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state official says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo fired his emergency management director for diverting crews to remove a tree from his driveway during Superstorm Sandy.

The official says Director of Emergency Management Steven Kuhr was let go after the governor was told Kuhr called a Suffolk County crew to remove a felled tree from his driveway on Long Island.

Kuhr was working in Albany at the time last week, shortly after Sandy hit.

Kuhr was paid $153,000 as executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

NYC Bans Food Donations To The Homeless

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ayor Michael Bloomberg’s food police have struck again!

Outlawed are food donations to homeless shelters because the city can’t assess their salt, fat and fiber content.

Glenn Richter arrived at a West Side synagogue last Monday to collect surplus bagels — fresh nutritious bagels — to donate to the poor. However, under a new edict from Bloomberg’s food police he can no longer donate the food to city homeless shelters.

“I can’t give you something that’s a supplement to the food you already have? Sorry that’s wrong,” Richter said.

Richter has been collecting food from places like the Ohav Zedek synagogue and bringing it to homeless shelters for more than 20 years, but recently his donation, including a “cholent”, was turned away because the Bloomberg administration wants to monitor the salt, fat and fiber eaten by the homeless.

Richter said he was stunned. He said his family has eaten the same food forever and flourished.

“My father lived to 97; my grandfather lived to 97, and they all enjoyed it and somehow we’re being told that this is no good and I think there is a degree of management that becomes micromanagement and when you cross that line simply what you’re doing is wrong,” Richter said.

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News Roundup But Mayor Bloomberg, a salt-aholic himself, was unapologetic.

“For the things that we run because of all sorts of safety reasons, we just have a policy it is my understanding of not taking donations,” Bloomberg said.

Told that his administration recently enacted the policy, the mayor was Grinch-like.

“If they did in the past they shouldn’t have done it and we shouldn’t have accepted it,” Bloomberg said.

Richter said that over the years he’s delivered more than two tons of food to the homeless. He said Mayor Bloomberg is eating away at his ability to do good.

The ban on food donations was made by an inter-agency task force that includes the departments of Health and Homeless Services. (CBS2)

Obama’s Re-Election Celebrated Around World

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rom his old school in Indonesia to a Japanese beach town that happens to share his name, many around the world cheered President Barack Obama’s re-election last Wednesday while others said stubborn conflicts and deepening economic and environmental woes will not be helped by his success.

Perhaps nowhere was the joy so simply expressed as at Jakarta’s Menteng 01

Elementary School, where a statue of the young Obama stands outside the school in tribute to its most famous alumni.

Jubilant students happily marched with a poster of the president from one classroom to another after hearing that he had won a second term: “Obama wins ... Obama wins again,” they shouted. “I want to be like him, the president,” said student Alexander Ananta.

The reaction elsewhere was much more reflective. The second Obama administration faces a troubling crisis in Syria, deepening tensions with Israel over how to cope with Iran’s nuclear program, a difficult military pullback from Afghanistan, and daunting economic challenges as Pacific power rises.

Mohammad Qassim, a carpet seller in the Afghan capital Kabul, said Obama’s first four years saw a substantial worsening of the bloodshed there.

“Obama hasn’t done anything good for Afghanistan,” he said. “He didn’t bring pressure on Pakistan. The centers of terrorists are still active across the border. He must make sure that fighting ends before the troops leave in 2014.”

Mohammad Wali, a paramilitary policeman, was more blunt: “We don’t care if he won or not,” he said.

Governments and regions pleased with the direction of recent U.S. policy were reassured by the clear election results, but those in conflict zones - or those wanting more U.S. leadership on issues like global warming - worry that more of the same may not be enough.

European leaders were generally happy to see Obama victorious, even though some complain that Europe is no longer considered a top priority by a U.S. leaders seen by many as the first “Pacific president” who sees Asia, with the rising economic superpower China in the lead, as more of a strategic focus.

Though Iranian media have long said the country saw little difference between Obama and Romney on tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, that did not stop the semiofficial Fars news agency for rolling out the vivid headline, “Republican’s elephant crushed by Demo-

crat’s donkey.”

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority has been disappointed that Obama did not pressure Israel to make greater efforts to make peace with the Palestinians, including a freeze on all settlement construction. In the absence of negotiations, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat urged the U.S. president to reverse course and support Palestinian efforts to seek U.N. General Assembly recognition of an independent state of Palestine.

“We have decided to take our cause to the United Nations this month, and we hope that Obama will stand by us,” Erekat told Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency.

In China, Obama’s re-election was good news for people concerned about Romney’s vow to label China a currency manipulator if elected. Some feared that would ignite a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

In Russia, Fyodor Lukyanov, editorin-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, said Obama’s second term should not bring any substantial change to Russian-American relations. He said he doesn’t expect Washington to reverse a plan to roll out a missile defense system in Europe, which has irritated Moscow for years.

“I don’t expect any breakthroughs,” he said. “That’s just not possible.”

A spokesman for the main Syrian opposition bloc, the Syrian National Council, expressed hope that the election victory would prompt Obama to do more to support those trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“We hope this victory for President Obama will make him free more to make the right decision to help freedom and dignity in Syria and all over the world,” SNC spokesman George Sabra said on the sidelines of an opposition conference on the Qatari capital of Doha.

Sabra renewed the opposition’s appeal to the international community to supply rebel fighters with weapons, but the Obama administration and its Western allies have been cool to opposition rebels’ demands for weapons such as anti-aircraft missiles, out of concern that they could fall into the wrong hands.

(AP)

Iran’s Ahmadinejad Says Anyone Stockpiling Atom Bombs Is “Mentally Retarded”

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ranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last Thursday the age of nuclear deterrence was long gone and any country still stockpiling nuclear

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weapons was “mentally retarded.”

He again denied Iran was trying to develop nuclear weapons, a day after the reelection victory of U.S. President Barack Obama, for whom Tehran’s disputed nuclear program will be one of the thornier foreign policy issues of his second term.

“The period and era of using nuclear weapons is over … Nuclear bombs are not anymore helpful and those who are stockpiling nuclear weapons, politically they are backward, and they are mentally retarded,” Ahmadinejad told reporters at a forum to promote democracy on the Indonesian island of Bali.

“The Iranian nation is not seeking an atomic bomb, nor do they need to build an atomic bomb … For defending ourselves we do not need a nuclear weapon,” said Ahmadinejad.

He added that representatives of any government or agency could visit the Islamic Republic to verify that it was not developing nuclear weapons.

Iran says it is enriching uranium only for peaceful energy purposes but it restricts access for U.N. nuclear inspectors and concealed some sensitive sites from them in the past.

The West has imposed increasingly harsh and far-reaching sanctions on Iran over suspicions it is trying to design a nuclear weapon in secret. Sanctions include curbs on imports of the OPEC member’s oil and on its sources of financing, battering its economy this year and putting Ahmadinejad under pressure.

The hardline conservative president said he was open to talks with Obama on forging peace around the world and called for the dismantling of all U.S. military bases abroad.

Obama’s re-election may open an opportunity for new negotiations with Iran on agreeing constraints to its nuclear program, with sanctions piling economic pressure on its theocratic leaders.

Obama’s Republican rival in the presidential election, Mitt Romney, had pledged a more hawkish approach to Iran had he won.

Ahmadinejad dismissed the U.S. election as a “battleground for the capitalists.” (Chicago Tribune)

Iran Fired At Unarmed US Drone, Pentagon Says

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ran fired on an unarmed U.S. drone last week as it was hovering in international airspace, the Pentagon announced last Thursday.

Spokesman George Little said the incident, which marks the first time the Iranians have fired on a U.S. drone, occurred Nov. 1 at 4:50 a.m. ET. He said the unarmed, unmanned drone was con-

November 15, 2012

News Roundup ducting “routine surveillance” over the Persian Gulf when it was “intercepted”

by Iran. He said the MQ1 Predator drone, which was not hit, was not in Iranian airspace.

According to Little, two Iranian jets fired twice, missing on both attempts -the drone headed away from the Iranian coast, landing safely soon after at an undisclosed location. The Iranian jets pursued the drone for a short period before giving up.

Little said the U.S. government has protested to the Iranians. Asked about how the U.S. could respond, he said: “We have a wide range of options from diplomatic to military.”

He would not say whether there were actually plans for a military response.

Asked if this should be considered an act of war, Little said he didn’t want to get into “legal characterizations” of the event.

Little stressed that the drone was flying 16 nautical miles off the coast of Kuwait in international waters, and never entered the 12-mile limit that would constitute Iranian territory.

The Pentagon announced the incident as the administration imposed a new round of financial sanctions against Iranian officials and entities. They marked the first sanctions since President Obama’s re-election last Tuesday. According to the Treasury Department, the move was “related to the Iranian government’s human rights abuses, its support of terrorism and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The drone encounter comes after a U.S. drone crashed in Iran late last year. Iran claimed to have shot it down, but U.S. officials said it merely malfunctioned and crashed.

Little said the U.S. will continue to run surveillance missions in the region.

Race For City Council Tied When Wife Of Candidate Doesn’t Vote

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obert McDonald has learned the hard way that every vote really does count.

The candidate for Kentucky’s Walton City Council finds himself tied with rival Olivia Ballou for the sixth seat at 669 votes each. Most likely, the race will be decided by a coin toss. But it could have been decided by McDonald’s wife, Katie, who didn’t make it out to vote.

McDonald’s wife works nights as a pa-

tient care assistant at Christ Hospital and is completing her nurse’s training at Gateway Community and Technical College.

She sleeps during the day and cares for their three children.

McDonald said he can’t blame her. “She woke up about 10 minutes before the polls closed and asked if she should run up, but I told her I didn’t think one vote would matter.”

Clearly, McDonald does not think that anymore.

Rules in Boone County for absentee voting are restrictive, so that wasn’t an option. The coin toss will go forward unless one of the candidates requests a recount.

Neither the 27-year-old McDonald, who runs the Oak Creek Campground in Walton, nor Ballou will be asking for a recount.

Dead Candidates Win Elections In Florida, Alabama

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lorida Democrat Earl K. Wood and Alabama Republican Charles Beasley won their respective elections but they will not take office.

Both men died weeks before the November 6 election yet managed to beat their very much alive opponents by comfortable margins.

Wood died on October 15 from natural causes at age 96, during his campaign for a 12th term as Orange County Tax Collector in Orlando, Florida.

Criticized for rarely coming into the office while collecting a $150,000 salary and $90,000 pension, Wood initially announced he would step down, only to change his mind when a longtime political foe made plans to seek the seat.

Wood’s wide name recognition after almost half a century in office scared off several serious contenders. His name remained on the ballot and he took 56 percent of the votes to 44 percent for a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected.

Beasley, 77, died on October 12, while trying to reclaim his old seat on the Bibb County Commission in central Alabama.

Beasley’s name also remained on the ballot and he won about 52 percent of the vote. His Democratic opponent, incumbent Commissioner Walter Sansing, took the loss especially hard.

“It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say,” Sansing said.

He blamed people voting straight Republican tickets for his loss.

In Orlando, Scott Randolph, an outgoing Democratic state legislator and state party activist, was selected by his party to receive votes cast for Wood and he will assume the office. In Alabama, the gov-

ernor will appoint a new commissioner with input from local Republicans.

Charles Darwin Gets 4,000 Write-In Votes In Georgia

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Georgia congressman who attacked the theory of evolution found himself with an unlikely opponent in last Tuesday’s U.S. election, when 4,000 voters in one county cast write-in ballots for the 19th century father of evolution, British naturalist Charles Darwin.

In a September 27 speech, Paul Broun, a physician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology Committee, called evolution and the Big Bang Theory, “lies straight from the pit of hell.”

Since Broun, a Republican, had no opposition in the general election, a University of Georgia plant biology professor, Jim Leebens-Mack, and others started a write-in campaign for Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution.

“We don’t feel our interests are being best served by an anti-science fundamentalist representing us on the Science, Space and Technology Committee,” Leebens-Mack said last Friday.

The write-in votes in Athens-Clarke County will not count officially since Darwin was never certified as a writein candidate, but Leebens-Mack hopes the campaign will encourage a strong candidate, Democrat or Republican, to challenge Broun in 2014.

“I think there could be Democratic opposition, but even more likely is having a rational Republican who understands issues like global warming, scientific reasoning more generally,” said Leebens-Mack.

Broun received 16,980 votes in Athens-Clarke County, home of the University of Georgia, Broun’s undergraduate alma mater. (Reuters)

Man Arrested Twice At Same Time Thanks To Daylight Savings

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is time had come. His time had come.

An Ohio man found himself in a bit of double trouble two weeks ago when -- thanks to daylight savings -- authorities busted him twice in one day, at the exact same time.

Niles Gammons, 22, had the first of his two police encounters at 1:08 a.m., when an officer in Urbana caught him allegedly driving down a one-way

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street in the wrong direction. Sergeant Dave Reese approached Gammons and claimed he had glazed eyes and smelled of alcohol, according to an arrest report.

Reese said that Gammon’s garbled speech suggested he was testing out an urban legend to pass a sobriety test.

“I then advised Niles that pennies in the mouth were a myth and that it did not help in taking a breath test,” Reese noted in his report.

Gammons got a court summons, because his blood alcohol level registered .116 and the officer said he found a small amount of marijuana.

But that was not the end.

After turning back the clock on Nov. 4 from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. to end daylight savings, Reese had the rare opportunity to travel back in time to make the same arrest all over again.

This time, Reese caught Gammons in a municipal parking, where police say the suspect threw his vehicle into reverse and nearly smashed a police cruiser. The time was 1:08 a.m.

Gammons was again arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. This time he was taken to the Urbana Police Division. (Huffington Post)

Denver Mailman Mistakes Corpse For Halloween Decoration

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he United States Postal Service acknowledged on Friday that one of its mail carriers did not report a corpse at a Denver home because he mistook the body for a Halloween display.

“We do know the carrier delivered mail to the house that day, and he remembered seeing something he thought was related to Halloween,” the postal service said in a statement.

“When the carrier learned that was not the case, he was shocked and extremely upset.”

A local news station reported that the dead man, Dale Porch, 46, collapsed and died November 2 on his porch steps after returning home from his night shift job.

Relatives of Porch could not be reached for comment by Reuters.

The postal service called the incident “an unfortunate situation” that probably would not have happened any other time of year.

“Our carriers have a long history of assisting customers in neighborhoods across the country each and every day, and that holds true for our letter carriers here in Denver,” the statement said.

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News Roundup CONTINUED FROM P. 63

The unidentified carrier is a “conscientious and dedicated employee” who remains on the job, the post office said, and any action that may be taken against him will be handled internally.

Romney we’re referring to are twin baby boys born in the town of Siaya just last week.

In a bid to forever remember the 2012 US election, 20-year-old mother Millicent Owuor has named her newborn twins after the winning and losing presidential candidates.

Man Napping In Montana Cornfield Run Over By Combine, Survives

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man napping in a Montana cornfield was startled out of his snooze when he was run over by a large harvesting machine – and Yellowstone County deputies say he’s lucky to be alive.

Sheriff’s Lt. Kent O’Donnell says the 57-year-old man had been traveling the country by bus and decided to take a rest three rows deep in a field on the outskirts of Billings, the state’s largest city.

A farmer harvesting last Wednesday felt his combine hit something. When he turned the machine off, he heard screaming.

Emergency responders found the man’s clothing had been sucked into the cutter, ensnaring him in the blades.

O’Donnell says the man, whose name was not released, suffered cuts requiring stitches and may need skin grafts, but given the circumstances is “incredibly lucky.”

Kenyan Mother Names Newborn Twins Barack Obama And Mitt Romney

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n an attempt to invalidate his Presidency, diehard Republicans have long claimed Barack Obama was born in his father’s native Kenya. No such rumors have circulated about Mitt Romney.

Now, however, there is unequivocal proof that both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were born in the east African country. And yes Donald Trump, there are birth certificates to prove it.

Of course, we’re not talking about the US President and his failed Republican challenger. The Barack Obama and Mitt

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Ms. Owuor gave birth to her boys just a short distance from Obama’s ancestral village of Kogelo – where his father was born and his 90-year-old step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, still lives.

Residents of Kogelo sang songs, danced and cheered “Obama, Obama, Obama!” after their candidate of choice dominated was re-elected.

Whether Ms. Owuor’s tribute leads to lifetime of intense sibling rivalry between the twins, or course, remains to be seen.

9-Year-Old Boy Steals Nearly $4,000 From Parents To Buy Candy

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magine a kid in a candy store. Now imagine a kid in a candy store with $4,000 to spend.

A nine-year-old Ukrainian boy spent nearly $4,000 at a candy store in Konotop, Ukraine on Nov. 7. The child stole the money from his parents who kept their life savings under their sofa.

“The disappearance was first spotted by the father, a shift worker who had just returned home,” said a local police officer. “He opened the stash and saw that it was empty.”

The boy’s purchase wasn’t easy to come by. His parents kept their savings in dollars and euros rather than the local Ukrainian currency, so the child recruited an adult accomplice, who reportedly had a mental disorder, to help him convert the money.

The story is more evidence of why keeping money under your sofa may not be the best idea. Not only is the cash susceptible to theft, it is easy to misplace or forget about. One Australian couple learned this the hard way after accidently cooking $15,000 in savings that they kept in their oven. Another family in New Jersey is still searching for the life savings of a relative who died in 1974 and hid his money around his house.

There is also no way to accrue interest on money that you are literally sit-

ting on every day. But with personal savings rates in the U.S. at all-time lows, some Americans are reluctant to leave money in the bank. A retiree near Orlando, Fla. recently told The New York Times that he decided to put his savings under his mattress after his credit union would only pay him 0.4 percent interest despite an average of 2.8 percent inflation during the last year.

Sadly enough, most Americans have very little savings to begin with. Around 49 percent don’t have enough money to cover three months of expenses and 28 percent don’t have any savings at all, CNN Money reports. Another study recently found that a majority of Americans have less than $500 in savings.

Woman Who Drove On Sidewalk Must Wear ‘Idiot’ Sign

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woman caught on camera driving on a sidewalk to avoid a Cleveland school bus that was unloading children will have to stand at an intersection wearing a sign warning about idiots.

Court records show a Cleveland Municipal Court judge last Monday ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardinto stand at an intersection for two days a week later. She will have to wear a sign saying: “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.”

The judge ordered her to wear the sign from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. both days.

Hardin’s license was suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.

Woman Fakes Kidnapping To Get Off From Work

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aybe next time she’ll just call in sick.

Police say a San Antonio woman admitted to faking her own abduction to get the day off from work.

After police found Sheila Bailey Eubank, 48, bound with rope in her car Oct. 10, she claimed a man had jumped into her vehicle and forced her to drive around at knifepoint on drug runs. Eubank said the man then tied her up and left her in her car in a field.

But detectives found a lottery ticket in Eubank’s purse that was purchased around the time she was supposedly being held captive.

Police said surveillance footage at the store where the ticket was purchased confirmed what they suspected: Eubank faked the whole thing. She later

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admitted she “simply wanted a day off from work and wanted attention,” police said.

Eubank was arrested and charged with aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony.

Florida Man Arrested After Tweeting About Fight

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olice say a Naples man was arrested after he bragged on Twitter about punching his neighbor.

According to an arrest report, Brandon Michael Perry and a neighbor got into an argument about Perry’s sister on Oct. 25. The neighbor told police that Perry punched him in the face, knocking him off his bicycle later that day.

Detectives looked at Perry’s Twitter account, where he describes himself as a “pill-popping animal.” He posted several tweets about his neighbor, including one where he apparently wrote that he was going to “knock” his neighbor out that day.

Police say that hours later Perry tweeted that he was thinking of turning himself in.

Perry was arrested on a battery charge.

Cash-Strapped UK Government Spends $16,000 On A Dead Snake

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ritain’s Foreign Office spent 10,000 pounds ($16,100) to restuff the corpse of a giant 120-year-old snake, at a time when government departments are being told to rein in spending.

In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from political blog Guido Fawkes, the Foreign Office said the 20-foot anaconda - called Albert - had been in poor condition and required “essential maintenance”.

“Albert the anaconda was allegedly presented by a Bishop, in what is now Guyana, to the Colonial Secretary in the 19th century,” the Foreign Office said.

The huge reptile hangs in a Foreign Office library and is regarded as a departmental asset in a country whose former empire once ruled over vast swathes of the planet.

“Austerity, what austerity?” asked the blog in red below the response.

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Queens Hatzolah Saving lives in times of disaster and every day

by Shira Diamond

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day in the life of a Hatzolah member means many things to different people. It means being willing to drop anything and everything to save a life and help someone in need.

It means getting out of a warm bed in the middle of the night and losing much needed sleep. It means missing out on important events and wonderful family time. But one thing it means to everyone is being able to achieve one of the biggest zechyos possible to attain in this world – that of saving a life.

It all started back in 1978, when seven members of the Queens community decided to start their own Hatzolah branch, after witnessing the success of Chevrah Hatzolah in Brooklyn. In 1979, patients were being transported by station wagon to the hospital, a far cry from the Hatzolah we all know today. But from these very humble beginnings, Hatzolah grew by leaps and bounds. Only two years later, the organization was able to purchase its first ambulance. Transforming into a more concrete organization, Queens Hatzolah has grown into a remarkable group that stands proud of its record of helping those in need of emergency medical care.

Most people are not aware of just how much Hatzolah is called upon for their services. But here are the

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facts: Queens Hatzolah gets about 5800 calls a year! That’s about 17 calls a day.

The members of the organization are all volunteers, with 100% of donated funds going to operating costs. Not only is Queens Hatzolah prepared to deal with day-to-day medical emergencies, it is also equipped to respond to situations involving mass casualties, ranging from events involving weapons of mass destruction to chemical or biological warfare. Queens Hatzolah also has more than 150 members who use the most up-to-date and current medical technology to be as effective at saving lives as they can. It also has a fleet of eight state-of-the-art ambulances, including six of the most advanced in the country! Two of the ambulances have all-wheel-drive and can travel in any weather. So perhaps more suitable a motto for Hatzolah than for the post office: “rain or shine, sleet or snow,” Hatzolah is always ready to help.

Ask people what they love most about Hatzolah, and you are sure to get all kinds of wonderful answers. But one thing ev-

Making sure ambulances are operational after a 2011 snowstorm eryone agrees on is the fact that Hatzolah members are always there when you need them, even putting their own lives in danger to help someone in need. This was evident on 9/11: when everyone else was running away from the World Trade

Hatzolah members usually arrive anywhere from five to six-and-a-half minutes before most other ambulances. Those extra minutes can mean life or death for someone who needs help

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Center, Hatzolah members raced to it in order to help as many people as they could. This was also evident in more recent events, when Hurricane Sandy pounded the tri-state area with powerful winds and a sea surge that flooded towns, destroyed homes and claimed many lives. Hatzolah was bombarded with phone calls for help from many different affected neighborhoods. And when people became trapped in their homes with the water level rising fast or were victim to various other dangerous circumstances, Hatzolah members tried to assist those people in whatever ways they could. This however, did not surprise anyone, as Hatzolah’s trademark is helping whenever and however it can, no matter what. As a side note, even though they responded when they were needed, Hatzolah does remind people to always follow evacuation orders. Leaving one’s home may be difficult, but failing to heed evacuation orders puts lives at risk.

Speaking to several members of this incredible group, the first thing I noticed is how proud Hatzolah members are to belong to such a vital service.

One member had originally joined in a different neighborhood and switched to Queens Hatzolah when he moved to the area. And he has never looked back. “I love doing it and love helping others,” he says. When I asked him what makes Hatzolah different from any other ambulance service, he notes the genuine care Hatzolah has for those in need. “Hatzolah members really do care about the people they are helping, and take the time to relate to and accommodate them, giving them the courtesy and respect they deserve. It’s not a job, it’s a mission.”

November 15, 2012

Queens Hatzolah Saving lives in times of disaster and every day Hatzolah and its dedicated volunteers also boast the fastest response time of just about any other EMT service, which is an incredible feat. Part of the reason for this success is the system on which Hatzolah operates.

Members live and travel all over the neighborhood, which means that there are people who can respond to an emergency at any given moment quite close to the scene, as opposed to other ambulance services whose EMTs or paramedics are dispatched from a headquarters or from hospitals. This method allows Hatzolah members to arrive anywhere from five to sixand-a-half minutes before most other ambulances. Those extra minutes can mean life or death for someone who needs help. Another Hatzolah member I spoke to gave an additional perspective on things. He decided to join at quite a young age, when as a five-year-old he witnessed a man drop to the floor in shul, and Hatzolah members rushed to help him.

He knew right then and there that he wanted to be a part of this lifesaving organization. He joined Hatzolah when he was 19 years old, and although it has been many years, he still loves helping people this way.

He explains that Hatzolah really has incredibly knowledgeable volunteers, each of whom must be either a New York state paramedic or EMT. Members are constantly refreshing their knowledge of what they have learned, as well as learning new medical techniques. New lectures are constantly taking place for volunteers to keep them abreast of what they need to know in the medical field. And of course, Hatzolah prides itself on having state-of-the-art equipment, including the eight ambulances that are a cut above most others. They also try to obtain new equipment and technology when they come out, such as an auto pulse/thumper, which assists in CPR to get the best results possible.

Hatzolah knows how important it is to have the latest and most efficient machines, because they have only one goal: to save the most lives possible.

Becoming a Hatzolah member is like becoming part of a family, and family always helps one another.

That’s why some members of the Queens Hatzolah went out to the Five Towns and Far Rockaway in order to assist in the relief efforts in those areas. It made no difference that they may have been putting their lives in

danger. It also made no difference that they weren’t residents of that neighborhood.

When someone, anyone, needs help, Hatzolah is always there.

Always having our safety in mind, local Hatzolah members offered the following tips for everyone to keep in mind at all times: Make sure your address on your house is always visible.

If possible, unblock your phone number when calling Hatzolah, so the

dispatcher can get your information more quickly.

Make sure you speak clearly to the dispatcher and have all the necessary information handy.

Following these safety tips will save precious time during an emergency when every second counts.

Whether it’s a common situation that requires emergency assistance or a rare disaster like Hurricane Sandy, Hatzolah members are fixtures in our community and we all know that

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we can rely on them in an emergency.

They risk their lives and give up their time to help the community be safe and to get the best emergency medical attention.

Shabbos Hatzolah is fast approaching. This year, the most important annual fundraiser takes place during Parshas Vayeitzei – November 24th. Let’s not forget this vital pillar of our community, and let us help them continue to do their incredible work every day, that of saving precious lives.

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November 24th at 8pm & November 25th at 3pm

PURCHASE TICKETS BY PHONE: 516.678.5000 ext. 7715 (Box Office hours: Mon.-Sat. 12 PM-4 PM) PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE: WWW.MADISONTHEATRENY.ORG

Bas Mitzva DJ

by Atara 917.405.3152 68

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November 15, 2012

THEY NEED OUR HELP!

As the Klal must be well aware, many in the greater New York area are going through an excruciatingly difficult time in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. There are countless families in the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, Bayswater and Long Island that are totally wiped out, having suffered crippling losses, losing homes, cars, clothing, everything. They are literally left with only the proverbial clothing on their backs and are in a shocking situation. Hundreds of others have been severely impacted.

To assist our community in this time of desperation, Achiezer has begun a campaign, chaired by distinguished baalei batim to allow those of us who are fortunate enough not to be suffering from the after effects of the hurricane, a once-in-a-lifetime direct pikuach nefesh opportunity. A board of trustees will oversee the funds raised in this campaign to insure that every penny goes directly into the hands of those who have lost so much due to the devastating hurricane. A special accounting of every dollar will be available at the end of this campaign.

Any monetary assistance, big or small, will help to alleviate the overwhelming need of our friends, neighbors and brothers.

The time to respond is NOW, as, even for those who are lucky enough to be insured, such payments can take weeks and months to process. The need is pressing and critical as so many families are living in unsafe conditions with, countless actually homeless.

Please respond in any way that you can by donating at achiezer.org/donate or calling our hotline

(516) 791-4444.

Checks can be mailed to 334 Central Ave., Lawrence, NY 11559.

May your participation in rebuilding the lives of those who live closer to the ocean be a zechus for all of Klal Yisroel.

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Community - Interview

By QJL Staff

C

Seasons Supermarket

hayala Shultz of Seasons supermarket took some time to speak with the QJL about the wonderful operation that goes on in Seasons.

Here is an inside scoop into the busy supermarket.

QJL: Hi, Chayale. Thank you so much for taking some time out from your busy day to talk with us. Working at a supermarket definitely has its pros; can you tell us what the best thing about working at Seasons is?

CS: Without a doubt my favorite part about working in Seasons is hearing the feedback from the community about how much our store has impacted them. Baruch Hashem, the community really loves the store and people say their supermarket shopping experience has never been so exciting since the opening of the store.

QJL: It sounds like people really find Seasons to be a great asset to the community! Can you tell us what Seasons has to offer that no other supermarket does?

CS: First of all, free coffee!! On a more serious note though, besides fresh and delicious food and a positive shopping atmosphere, Seasons offers a listening ear. We aren’t just a supermarket; we are a shopping experience. We have multiple managers on the floor on a constant basis waiting to help our customers. If a customer has a question, comment, or just wants to talk, the managers are always available to answer and talk.

Navigating the store is easy thanks to extrawide aisles

Some of the delicacies from the bakery

but it is miles apart in personality. I almost feel as though I travel to an out-of-town” community every day. The people here are super friendly, always striking up conversation, asking how I’ve been and the like.

I have never experienced anything like that in the supermarkets in Brooklyn.

QJL: I guess you can say we’re the best of both worlds: out of town and in town all at the same time! Can you tell us your secret for keeping the store so neat, clean and customer friendly?

CS: If it’s a secret then I can’t tell you ;). But what I can tell you is this - it

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QJL: Well that’s certainly not something you see often. Where are you from Chayala? Were you familiar with the Queens community before you started working here?

CS: I am from Brooklyn. I thought I was pretty familiar with Queens before I started working here but I am surprised every day! What I really enjoy is the fact that Queens is a mere thirty minutes from my neighborhood

One of the many colorful platters from the sushi department takes a lot of work. In a store as big and as busy as ours it’s a constant struggle to make sure our store is always neat and friendly. All employees, from the cleaning crew to the stock boys to the cashiers to the managers, were trained extensively

Partnering with Hatzolah to send food to the Five Towns after Sandy on how to be customer friendly. We pride ourselves on our customer service and with one visit to the store anyone can see that!

QJL: With a store full of food at your fingertips every day, what is your favorite thing to nosh on at work?

CS: We have so many products in our store that it’s hard to pinpoint what item is my favorite to nosh on. I do love the fresh-squeezed juices as well as the fresh-made wraps that we carry.

But then again, the sushi is the greatest

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sushi I have ever had, as are the fresh bourekas in the bakery department.

This is a trick question for me because all the food here is so good!

QJL: As a side note, the free coffee is such a great touch; will Seasons offer free coffee forever?

CS: As far as I’m concerned, fresh coffee will always be offered for our loyal customers. It’s all part of the fun camaraderie that we call Seasons!

QJL: In all the times I have shopped at Seasons, I have never found a single yucky fruit or vegetable in the produce section. How do you guys make that happen?

CS: When we close our doors for the night, our workers do not stop working. Josh, head of the produce department, heads to the produce market and is there the whole night picking only the freshest fruits and vegetables in order that the customers have the highest quality of produce in their fridges. Every single produce item in the store was personally looked at by Josh, a “produce veteran,” having worked in produce for the past thirty years.

QJL: Wow! That’s a produce expert if I’ve ever seen one! What would you say is the most difficult aspect of running a supermarket?

CS: I would say that the most difficult part of running a supermarket is probably being on top of so many workers while at the same time making sure all your customers are happy. But that’s just a guess.

For a real answer you will have to catch Mayer Gold to ask him...and believe me, that’s harder than it sounds! He›s so unbelievably busy, but at the end of the day, he›s the best boss ever. I don›t know how he does it but I am full of respect for the amount of work that he does every day.

He is so involved with the customers as well as all his employees. Amazing if you ask me!

QJL: What would the Seasons motto be if you had to choose one?

CS: Seasons’ motto is «It›s always in Seasons,» meaning anything you need is in Seasons. And it’s not only products that I›m talking about. Everyone who comes to Seasons leaves with a smile. It’s just a fun place to be.

QJL: Thanks for talking with us Chayala, and thanks for being part of Seasons, such a great addition to the Queens community!

November 15, 2012

Admission is FREE!

Men & Women Welcome!

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November 15, 2012

Financially Forward

Danger Sign Straight Ahead

by Gerald Harris

N

ow that the election is over, legislators in Washington will focus their attention on trying to resolve an imminent problem: how to keep the economy from falling off of the dreaded fiscal cliff.

The fiscal cliff is a combination of dramatic fiscal changes that are set to take place at the end of this year. That’s when tax cuts implemented under Pres.

Bush are set to expire; if they do, in effect there will be a significant tax increase. At the same time, deep automatic cuts in government spending are set to take place. Many economists and analysts warn that the combination of these events could be the one-two punch that pushes the economy into recession.

Democrat and Republican legislators will certainly try to prevent that from happening but they have their work cut out for them because a number of red flags have already been raised about growth.

For example, third quarter earnings at many companies were weaker than expected. The Chinese economy, which has been the driving force in global growth in recent years, is now experiencing a slowdown. And countries throughout the EU including Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal are either in deep recession or depression.

If lawmakers come to an agreement, one of the changes we’re likely to see is higher capital gains taxes during the president’s second term. Low taxes on capital gains encourage investments, lead to new jobs and even boost tax revenues. On the other hand, high taxes discourage investment.

Equity analysts at Goldman Sachs believe that capital gains taxes will likely be raised to 23.8% from the current 15%. And they add that taxes on divi-

dends will also go higher. Both of these developments would make investing in stocks less attractive.

less at least,” he added.

Analysts at rating agency Fitch said that “failure to avoid the fiscal cliff would tip the US economy into an un-

“We have Europe doing the same thing: piling on new taxes. Japan is piling on new taxes. The Federal Reserve is going to continue to undermine the dollar, which is going to hurt small and medium-sized businesses. It’s going to be very tough sledding next year.”

Marc Faber, a veteran analyst and publisher of the Marc Faber, a veteran analyst and Gloom, Boom & Doom Report, warns that stocks publisher of the Gloom, Boom & Doom could fall 20% -- more than 2000 points from current Report, is also a voice of pessimism. Falevels – because of the president’s reelection ber warns that stocks could fall 20% -more than 2000 points from current levels – because of the president’s reHistorical Warning necessary and avoidable recession and election. Technically, the market has Apparently, a lot of investors are not result in an increase in the unemploy- been weak for several months he says, taking chances and have decided to cash ment rate to about 10 percent in 2013.” and “Mr. Obama’s economic policies in now on the huge gains they’ve made And they also warned that in this event are obviously not very good for an ecoin the market over the last three and a Fitch would probably downgrade its rat- nomic expansion.” Faber believes that half years. On the Wednesday following ing of the US, which is currently AAA, small and medium-sized businesses Election Day, the Dow Jones Industrials the highest rating. will be very reluctant to hire people givplunged 313 points, its worst selloff in a Publisher Steve Forbes, who is also a en Obamacare. year, and closed under the technically highly regarded economist and former Fortunately, there is some good news: important 13,000 level. The selloff con- presidential candidate, states that the reaching a compromise will reduce the tinued the following day when the mar- changes now under consideration won’t deficit over the long term. ket fell an additional 121 points. push the US economy into a depression Hopefully, Wall Street will keep that Could further declines follow? It is but that they would “pose a real burden” in mind as it navigates through the danpossible because historically, when tax- and lead to a recession. gerous bumps in the road ahead. es on capital gains are raised, the stock market falls. In particular, stocks fall in the December prior to the year tax increases are set to rise because investors sell to lock in the lower rates still in effect in the year that’s ending.

Donald Trump, the billionaire real estate mogul and investor, has warned Congress not to let the Bush tax cuts expire because “we’re in a very, very fragile economy,” he said.

Bill Gross, founder of the fund giant Pimco, essentially agrees. “What we have to look forward to, though, in terms of investments, is if the fiscal cliff includes higher taxes, which is the key,” Gross told CNBC. “The point being for stocks is that if dividend and capital gains tax rates go up then stocks are worth less, perhaps five to ten percent

Leave A Legacy And Enjoy Income

by Ariel Tavor

A

s you were planning for retirement, your own financial future was your top priority.

But, you also kept in mind the legacy you would leave your children when you were gone.

As retirement drew nearer, you

had every intention of sticking with your original plan and budget. But now, after being retired for a short while, you have found that you want additional discretionary income. Still, you’re unsure about increasing your savings withdrawals CONTINUED ON P. 74

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73

News Roundup ing Albert’s looks might not be essential work for a government whose prime minister warned voters just last month to brace for “painful decisions” on the economy.

“It is quite a bit of money, but he is a very big snake. We will not be constricted, nor will we scale back, in our dedication to preserve this historic national treasure”.

Sandy Uproots Connecticut Tree, 200-Year-Old Human Remains Uncovered

A

Connecticut town got an unexpected history lesson after fierce winds from monster storm Sandy toppled a 103-year-old oak tree and exposed skeletal remains below it, officials said last Wednesday.

The remains likely belonged to a victim of yellow fever or smallpox who might have been buried on the New Haven town green between 1799 and 1821, police spokesman David Hartman said.

Headstones for those buried below the green were moved to a local cemetery in 1821, but the bodies of potentially thousands of residents were never relocated, he said.

This week’s storm brought 40 to 70 mile per hour winds to New Haven, knocking out power, downing trees and causing some flooding to properties, Hartman said.

Sandy’s force overturned a wellknown oak that was planted on the town green in 1909 in honor of the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. A passerby looking at the fallen oak spotted human bones in its roots and alerted authorities, Hartman said.

News of the discovery drew a crowd to the green, where people offered historical information and wild theories about

Leave A Legacy And Enjoy Income CONTINUED FROM P. 73

since doing so would erode the assets you had hoped to leave your heirs.

Consider this hypothetical situation about how one 70-year old woman tackled the very same challenge. She had set aside $500,000 for her children’s inheritance. Yet, once she actually retired, she realized that the annual budget she had carved out for herself was insufficient for the retirement life-

style she desired. She considered simply buying an annuity to generate more discretionary income for herself until her financial professional suggested a two-step life insurance plus annuity strategy to help her avoid choosing between her financial future or her family’s.

First, she met with an advisor who recommended she buy a permanent life insurance policy with a $500,000 death benefit, naming her children as beneficiaries.

The death benefit on the insur-

Long Island Yeshiva looking for a full time administrative assistant Proficient in Microsoft Office 2 years minimum experience required Email resume penpaperpaperclip@yahoo.com 74

the origins of the skeleton, he said.

“It was a great deal of fun, with no disrespect intended to the dead of course,” Hartman said. “It was good Halloween stuff.”

A death investigator from the medical examiner’s office and a research associate from Yale University’s Depart-

ance policy would free of federal and state income tax. Based on her age, health, gender and the options chosen, the annual premium for this policy was approximately $15,607.

Next, she purchased a $500,000 Lifetime Income Annuity that generated a guaranteed annual aftertax payout of over $30,000 that would continue every year for the rest of her life. The annuity pay-

ment of Anthropology are collecting the remains. The city is discussing how to properly bury them after they are studied, Hartman said.

Given the likely history of the skeleton, no criminal investigation is planned, he said.

outs covered the entire life insurance premium each year, plus she still received the slightly over $16,000 remaining per year of income just as she had hoped.

The Life insurance plus annuity strategy achieved both important goals: Our retiree got the extra income she needed, and was still able to help secure her family’s financial future with a generous, guaranteed inheritance.

This educational third-party article is being provided as a courtesy by Ariel Tavor. For additional information on the topics discussed please contact Ariel at 646-227-8294 or www.ArielTavor.com

THE SHALOM BAYIS HOTLINE Struggling with Shalom Bayis?

Talk to our caring staff for FREE. Please call 732-523-1112.

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We’ve had great results so far, B”H November 15, 2012

Feelin’ Funny

by Mordechai Schmutter

Another Book? By Mordechai Schmutter?

I

have very exciting news for you. But first, a story.

The other week I got a call from a friend of mine. He told me that he’d just had his fourth daughter, and that he’s totally out of girls’ names, the poor guy.

“What do I name her?” he asked me.

“My wife and I can’t decide.”

So I told him that he should have thought of that before he gave his twin daughters double names. “You used up four names in one day,” I told him.

“And that was after you gave your oldest daughter a double name too. And then you went and named your son Simcha, which, if you were strapped, you could have used as a girl’s name as well.”

See, people never ask me these questions until it’s too late. And now he had only two days to come up with a girl’s name. Or, knowing him, two girl’s names.

He said, “You’ve written articles about names, right?”

And I had. I wrote one a year ago when I was naming my youngest son, and I also wrote an article asking readers to help name one of my books, which ended up being called A Clever Title Goes Here. And then another, which ended up being called This Side Up. “What do you want me to do?” I asked.

“Write a column asking people to come up with girls’ names?”

“Maybe,” he said. “What’s your lead time?”

“Four to six weeks.”

So no, that’s not what this column is about.

I did try to help him brainstorm, though. My idea was to use a name from one of the nearby parshios. Over the course of the conversation, I came up with Bilhah, Osnas, Hagar, EishesPotifar, and Busmass, who was one of Eisav’s wives.

“Actually,” I said, “don’t name her Busmass. Busmass sounds like someone with a thick accent and a really deep voice who can lift a car over her head.”

“You’re not really being helpful,” he informed me.

“What did you expect?” I said.

“Ooh! Osnas Busmass!”

Everyone has a talent, and coming up with names is not mine. Look at my kids – none of them have original names.

They’re all named after relatives. People come over to me all the time to tell me that they like my articles, but not once has someone come over and said, “I like your titles.” And I’m okay with that. It’s not like anyone is complaining about the titles either.

“Really? You called your article on

names, “Naming Names?” However did you think of that?”

No, my titles kind of go unnoticed, even when they’re really bad. But I still need to have titles, so you know where to start reading. And in fact, it wasn’t until a while after I started writing articles that I realized that even though the title appears before the article, I’m supposed to come up with it after I write the article, once I know what’s actually going to be in the article. So my

you just know that everyone is going to figure out exactly who you are, because you’re the only person in the entire Queens, for example, with the initials MK,) you can either let us know, or just send the titles in under a fake name.

GUIDELINES: 1. Participants can send in as many title ideas as they want. 2. They can even send in titles from 2009 articles that they can remember offhand and that they think would work as a title for the entire book. 3. If we use your title, you can’t come over to us after you write a book of your own and ask for it back.

4. But if we don’t use it, you can use it for I am pleased to present my third-ever future projects. Make sure you keep a Official Book-Naming Contest copy of the title, though, because we’re not going to mail it back. 5. If we don’t use your title, don’t call us up repeatedstrategy is usually to take the one joke was too late to suggest a title. ly to ask why not. 6. Really, we mean it. that wasn’t quite good enough to make (To be fair, the title implied that We can only pick one title. It in no way it into the article and use that as my title. it wasn’t.) means that we think yours isn’t good. 7.

But that doesn’t quite cut it with a Official Contest Rules: NO PURCHASE If you’re really going to get offended if book. A book title has to jump off the NECESSARY. But it is appreciated. To we don’t use your title, then look at the store shelf at the reader, preferably mak- enter, send title(s) to MSchmutter@ contest this way instead: Rather than ing him shriek and drop all his other gmail.com. GRAND PRIZE: Grand Prize sending in ideas for a title, you’re sendbooks, and it has to still make sense sit- winner will receive one (1) signed copy ing in a guess as to what title we’re going ting on his bookshelf years later, jump- of my new book, FREE. You will also re- to come up with, on our own, possibly ing out at his houseguests. It’s like nam- ceive mention in an upcoming article, as based on outside stimuli, such as your ing a child, sort of, in that you want to well as in the book itself. Even if your guess. If you get it right, you win! 8. If come up with something that suits the name sounds made up. Our credibility you’re playing it that way, any guesses baby now, but also won’t make the kid was already shot a long time ago. FIRST received after we announce the title resent you when he gets older. And you PRIZE: There is no first prize. The first are disqualified. 9. Please don’t try to have to come up with it on a deadline. prize is the grand prize. We’re only going name our book Chaim or Shlomo or OsOn the other hand, naming a book to pick one title. But some titles might nas Busmass. 10. The titles you sent in is nothing like naming your kids. For be mentioned in a later article, along for the last book will still be considered, example, you can’t just name it af- with the participant’s initials (unless the so you don’t have to send them again. 11. ter somebody. You can’t just call your participant has embarrassing initials, like If you send them again, we might conbook Chaim.

MUD or YAK) and his home city (unless sider them twice, because our memory “Why Chaim?” the person has an embarrassing home is like a rusty bear trap, but it won’t incity, like Brooklyn). SECOND PRIZE: crease your chances of winning. It’s not “It’s after my grandfather.”

That said, I am pleased to present my Look, there’s no second prize either. like we’re picking it out of a hat. 12. If third-ever Official Book-Naming Contest. It’s not like we’re ranking the titles in you have any name ideas for my friend’s Iy”H this coming May (Jewish time) I am order from best to worst. We’re picking daughter, don’t bother sending them coming out with a fourth book, which the one that we’re using, and that’s it. in. There is no prize, and like I said, she will pretty much collect a lot of my col- PRIVACY POLICY: If you don’t want us to was born a month ago. 13. If you made it umns from 2009 (about 50 columns or run your initials and home city (because through this, you don’t need glasses. so), as well as feature some new material that I have yet to think of or write. BasiMordechai Schmutter is a weekly humor columnist for Hamodia, a monthly cally, it will be a lot like This Side Up, exhumor columnist for The Jewish Press, and has written three books, all published cept with different columns, and, hopeby Israel Book Shop. He also does freelance writing for hire. You can send any fully, printed right-side up. questions, comments, or ideas to MSchmutter@gmail.com That’s where you come in. There has to be someone out there who is good at coming up with titles but can’t write an article to save his life, and I’m hoping that YOU are that person. If you can think of a title, please send it in, preferably sometime before the end of December, and the publishers and I will consider it for publication. This should come as good news if you, like many of my readers, wrote to me after my previous book hit the stores, asking if it

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Side-Splitting Stand-Up Know Your Audience A disappointed Coca Cola salesman returns from his assignment to Israel. A friend asked, "Why weren't you successful with the Israelis?"

The salesman explained, "When I got posted, I was very confident that I would make it. But, I had a problem. I didn't know Hebrew. So, I planned to convey the message via three posters.

The first poster was a man lying in the hot desert sand, totally exhausted.

The second poster was the man drinking the Coca Cola.

The third poster was the man now totally refreshed.

"These posters were pasted all over the place."

"That should have worked!" said the friend.

"The heck it should have!" exclaimed the salesman. "I didn't realize that Israelis read from right to left!!"

Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically. Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

“Well, it’s over, and as usual, the guy from Kenya won.”

– David Letterman “The Minnesota Timberwolves are being accused of having too many white players. Some say it’s a ploy to appeal to a mostly white fan base. The owner claims it’s not a ploy to win fans. It’s a ploy to lose games.”

– Conan O’Brien “Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Nets had to cancel their big home opener tomorrow night. Good news is, if the Nets can keep this up for eight more months, they could have their first undefeated season.”

– Jimmy Kimmel “‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’” is back. Not for gays in the military — it’s President Obama’s new policy for questions about Libya.”

– Jay Leno “A new report found that an American is arrested for marijuana possession every 42 seconds. And that American’s name is Snoop Dogg.”

- Jimmy Fallon “Colorado and Washington have become the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. That’s a big deal because here in California, you can use marijuana legally only if you receive it for a fake medical condition.”

– Jimmy Kimmel “This week the U.S. unveiled a larger, more convenient checkpoint at the border with Mexico. And then Mexicans unveiled a larger, more convenient tunnel around it.”

–Jimmy Fallon “The New York Marathon is now not happening on Sunday. Mayor Bloomberg canceled it. I think that was the right

thing to do. In fact, I don’t even know why they bother running the marathon.

We know what’s going to happen. Why not just find a random Kenyan, put a medal around his neck, and save everyone the trouble?”

–Jimmy Kimmel “The International Olympic Committee is investigating Lance Armstrong for the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics. A little tip for the IOC: If Lance was on steroids and he came in third, you might want to take a peek at the guys with gold and silver.”

–Conan O’Brien “A 108-year-old woman in South Carolina just voted for the first time. She voted for Eisenhower — but still, good for her.”

–Jimmy Fallon “Donald Trump, did you see him today? He was giving candy only to kids who could show their birth certificate and their school records.”

–Jay Leno “The hurricane has interrupted the presidential campaign. Both presidential candidates are taking measures to prepare for Hurricane Sandy. President Obama is staying in Washington to coordinate relief efforts. And Mitt Romney is moving his smaller homes into his larger home.”

–Conan O’Brien “A man in Indiana got a tattoo of Mitt Romney’s campaign logo on his face.

They describe the man as a staunch Republican who has never heard of bumper stickers.”

–Conan O’Brien “I don’t want to say that was a tough World Series, but today Detroit asked for another bailout.”

–Jay Leno

Solutions to last issue’s puzzles

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November 15, 2012

silly sign

The Simple Monte

Shouldn't be too hard to enforce...

Solution will appear in next issue.

Effect: In this trick, you display three cards and ask the spectator to remember them. After turning the cards over, you remove the middle card. You ask the spectator if they can recall what the card is. And when you show it to them, it›s a different card. This is an easy trick that you can easily make and perform.

Secret: You use a trick card that has a fake corner.

Preparation: You›ll need four cards. It›s usually best to use three cards that look somewhat alike or are the same, and one that contrasts with the others. In this case, we›ll use three red number cards and a black face card, the King of Spades.

Cut the corner off of the card that you will display in the middle. To obtain this corner, which is the secret, you’ll want to use one of the “like” cards.

Using clear adhesive tape, attach the corner of the cut-off card to one of the other cards. Again, you’ll want to use one of the other “like” cards.

Here, the ten of hearts.

Place the corner of the “different” card, in this case the King of Spades, under the corner that’s taped onto the first card.

Place the last card so it covers the “different” card. When viewed this way, you can’t see the King that’s underneath the eight of diamonds and the corner of the nine of diamonds.

You’re ready to begin the trick.

Display the cards in a fan. Ask the spectator to remember which card is where.

Turn over the fan of cards.

Remove the middle card. Be careful not to expose the extra corner that taped to one of the cards. Ask the spectator if they can name the card that you removed.

Turn over the card to show that it has somehow changed. Quickly put your cards away.

Across 1. Utensil (5) 3. Path (5) 7. Disregarded (7) 9. Send out (5) 10. Military command (5) 11. Mythical beast (7) 12. Taste (6) 14. Movie house (6) 18. Bet (7) 20. Deduce (5) 22. Awkward (5) 23. Roamed (7) 24. Finished (5) 25. Small boat (5)

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Down 1. Mariners (7) 2. Possessed (5) 3. Boredom (6) 4. Legal excuse (5) 5. Svelte (7) 6. Beer mug (5) 8. Relating to country life (5) 13. Tycoon (7) 15. Dialect (5) 16. Condense (7) 17. Worshipped (6) 18. Forgo (5) 19. Graded (5) 21. Criminal (5)

77

Previously: On a small farm long ago, a farmer gets prepared as his wife is about to give birth. He soon hears two infants crying.

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ISSUE #132 / PARSHAS TOLDOS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 2 KISLEV 5773

BUSINESS W E E K LY under the auspices of HaRav Chaim Kohn, shlita

STORY LINE

FOR INFORMATION ON DEDICATING THE QUEENS EDITION OF BUSINESS WEEKLY, PLEASE EMAIL

Restoring the Primacy of Choshen Mishpat

director@businesshalacha.com

by Rabbi Meir Orlian

Prime Suspect

Halacha Writer for the Business Halacha Institute

“I arranged with Simon Kleinoff, the plumber, to clear the blockage in the kitchen sink this morning,” Mr. Laks told his wife.

“Oh, great!” she replied.

Simon arrived at 10 o’clock. He worked for a half hour, going in and out of the house to bring tools from his car.

Mrs. Laks came into the kitchen and opened the drawer near the sink.

“Have you seen my ring?” she asked Simon suspiciously.

“No, I haven’t,” Simon responded in a surprised voice.

“I left my ring in the kitchen drawer when I cleaned the kitchen this morning,” Mrs. Laks confided to her husband, panic-stricken.

“There was no one else in the house other than Simon all morning, and he’s been in and out to his car numerous times.”

“Are you sure that you left it in the drawer?”

Mr. Laks asked her.

“Absolutely positive,” she said. “I also noticed that the drawer was ajar and had been rummaged through.”

Mr. Laks went over to Simon.

“My wife is missing her ring,” he said. “She is positive that she left it in the drawer near the sink this morning, and only you were in the house today.”

“How dare you accuse me?” said Simon indignantly. “Your wife probably moved it and forgot where she put it.”

“She is sure she left it in the drawer,” said Mr. Laks emphatically.

“You have no evidence that I took it,” said Simon, shaking his head angrily. “Anyway, I just finished clearing the sink blockage.

You owe me $150 for the repair and I’ll be off.”

“I’m not paying anything,” said Mr. Laks.

“I’m holding the repair payment in lieu of the ring, until we discuss this with Rabbi Dayan.”

“We’d better do that,” retorted Simon. “Let’s go right now!”

“My wife left her ring in the kitchen drawer, and it was taken,” Mr. Laks said to Rabbi Dayan. “Mr. Kleinoff was working in the kitchen then and was the only other person in the house. What recourse do we have?”

“A person who makes a definite claim but has no evidence or testimony can impose an oath (shevuas heses) on the other party who denies the claim,” answered Rabbi Dayan. “Although, in general, a person cannot impose an oath without a definite claim, Rema writes that a person can impose an oath if there is a strong basis (raglayim ladavar) for the claim, even if it is not definite (C.M. 75:17).” continued on reverse side

FROM THE BHI HOTLINE

The Useless Heater Submitted by R. W.

effort to ship back the heater and pay the shipping costs?

In advance of my trip to Israel, I bought a heater and specified to the store owner that I needed a heater that runs on 220v. When I arrived, I opened the box and realized that he had given me a heater that runs on 110v.

I contacted the merchant; he is ready to refund my money upon return of the heater.

Q: Am I responsible to spend time and

A: The merchant must pay for the shipping, but you are obligated to ship it to him, assuming it does not require uncommon effort.When a customer specifies that he intends to use his purchase in a distant place and, upon arrival, discovers that the item is damaged or is not the item he ordered, the merchant must refund the customer’s

money and retrieve the faulty merchandise (C.M. 232:21). The rationale is that although a merchant may assume that his merchandise is not defective, if a defect would cause the customer a financial loss, he must exercise greater caution to assure that the merchandise is not defective.

This being the case, when a customer specifies that he will take the item to a different location, the merchant is aware that shipping back the defective merchandise will cause continued on reverse side

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79

STORYLINE

FROM THE BHI HOTLINE

CONTINUED

“What is an example of something that is considered a strong basis?” asked Mr. Laks.

“Let’s say someone was in your house. You find your money box broken and the contents stolen, and you suspect that person.

You can impose an oath upon him,” replied Rabbi Dayan.

“However, the Shach (75:63) questions the Rema’s ruling. He concludes that it depends on the evaluation of the beis din; if they see sufficient basis for the allegation, they can impose an oath upon the accused.”

“I understand that nowadays beis din is wary about imposing an oath,” said Mr. Laks.

“Anyway, I want to withhold Mr. Kleinoff’s wages!”

“This is a complicated issue,” replied Rabbi Dayan. “The Sma (75:49) writes that if the plaintiff grabs payment from the suspected thief unobserved (so

that there is no evidence that he grabbed), he can keep the payment. Shach (75:64) and Taz (75:17) vehemently disagree; a person cannot take money from another when there is an element of doubt. Pischei Teshuvah (75:20) cites varying opinions of later authorities.

“Bottom line: since the plaintiff is already in possession of the money, he can keep it when he has a clear basis for his claim (see Pischei Choshen, Geneivah 1:[13]).”

“Then I should be able to withhold the wages,” said Mr. Laks, “since I am in possession of the money.”

“It would seem so, provided that no one else was in the house and, due to the circumstances, your wife is sure that Mr. Kleinoff stole and not just that there is a good chance (see 408:2; Pischei Teshuvah 75:20).”

the customer a loss (Prishah 232:18) and must therefore pay the shipping costs. Additionally, the merchant is obligated to pay the shipping costs since he did not confirm that he was giving you the heater you requested.

However, concerning the shipping arrangements that do not require extraordinary effort, it is not sufficient to merely notify the merchant to retrieve it himself. The mitzvah of hashavas aveidah (returning a lost object) also obligates one to prevent a Jew from suffering unnecessary financial loss. It is therefore your responsibility to make the shipping arrangements.

Ostensibly, the merchant’s behavior is considered aveidah midaas — one who negligently allowed his possession to become lost — and in such a case, the mitzvah of hashavas

CONTINUED

aveidah does not apply (C.M. 261:4). This principle, however, is not applicable.

Every time someone loses an object, there is an element of negligence, but it is not categorized as aveidah midaas unless the owner actively indicates that he is not concerned about the object. For example, a person who throws an object into the public domain has actively demonstrated that he is not interested in that object and it is considered an aveidah midaas.

In contrast, when an object was lost because one was not careful enough, it is not an aveidah midaas and the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah still applies.

The final ruling in your case is that the merchant is responsible to pay the shipping costs, but you are obligated to arrange to ship it back to him.

PLEASE CONTACT OUR CONFIDENTIAL HOTLINE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS 877.845.8455 :: ASK@BUSINESSHALACHA.COM

Damages #2 Q: Is a person liable for damage that he did unintentionally?

A: The Mishnah (B.K. 26a) teaches: “A person is always considered mu’ad (prone to do damage), whether accidental or intended, whether awake or asleep.” The Gemara (26b) adds that he is liable even for oness (uncontrollable actions) as for willing actions. Therefore, a person who was blown

MONEY MATTERS off a roof by an unusually strong gust of wind is liable if he caused damage (27a).

Some understand this rule literally, that a person is obligated even for circumstances beyond his control. This is the simple understanding of the Rambam (Hil. Chovel Umazik 6:1) and Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 378:1-2; Shach 378:1).

Tosafos (B.K. 27b), on the other hand, limits this rule to uncontrollable circumstances

that contain an element of carelessness.

However, a person is not liable for cases of oness when there is no element of fault. The Rema follows this opinion (378:1; 421:4).

Even according to the stringent view, a person is not liable for oness if the damaged party was negligent in leading to the damage (421:4) or if the incident was a great oness, totally beyond his control (378:3; Pischei Choshen, Nezikin 1:6-9).

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November 15, 2012

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity Hurricane Hospitality Jewish Heritage Center Of Queens Takes In Bayswater Yeshiva Afflicted By Storm

by Lorey Friedman

T

he Jewish Heritage Center of Queens, a prominent kiruv center headquartered locally on Main Street, offered outreach of a different kind in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Barely had the storm winds abated when the JHC reached out to Rabbi Shaya Cohen, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh and Kollel Ner Yehoshua, whose yeshiva, housed in the Agudah of Bayswater, was destroyed by the flooding waters of the hurricane. With true empathy and open arms, the rabbis of the JHC invited Rabbi Cohen to bring his talmidim to Queens and make the JHC their temporary new makom Torah.

The main Beis Midrash of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh (ZA) was a painful sight after the storm, as over six feet of water flooded the room, destroying furniture and sefarim. One dormitory was completely ruined, leaving the talmidim without their home. Therefore, when the JHC called Rabbi Cohen - the first offer of help he received - and invited ZA to Queens, he gratefully accepted the chesed. It was a smart and feasible move, as many of the yeshiva’s talmidim are from Queens and others knew members of the Queens community where they could stay.

In fact, the students of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh seem to really like being in Kew Gardens Hills. The hustle and bustle, not to mention the many eateries at their fingertips, is something they didn’t have available to them as easily as on Main Street. As one talmid commented, “I could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, just by going across the street to Seasons or Naomi’s Pizza.”

The young men are also remarkably impressed with how nice the Kew Gardens Hills community has been to them. They are amazed at how accommodating the Jewish Heritage Center has been as they fill their Queens kiruv center from early in the morning until late at night. Guests at the JHC, the talmidim cannot convey enough how comfortable and welcome they are made to feel at the Jewish Heritage Center.

As most of the ZA students dorm in the yeshiva, many of the boys are now staying at local families in our neighborhood. The outpouring of hospitality that Kew Gardens Hills has offered to those in need is a re-

Rabbi Shaya Cohen, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh, speaks to his talmidim at the JHC, while they await the return of power in Bayswater

Talmidim of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh are now guests, learning at the Jewish Heritage Center since Hurricane Sandy destroyed their yeshiva in Bayswater. (L-R) Yanky Weber, Yaakov Rosenthal, Meir Parry, Ben Packer

Well-known for its small, engaging classes and shiurim, the interaction between students and Rebbeim at is an integral part of the ZA experience. The new building will include a gym, pool and many other facilities and amenities that will allow the many unique programs that Zichron Aryeh offers to prosper. One of them is their famous teacher-training program, preparing men to be leaders in Chinuch.

While, Baruch Hashem, the brunt of the destruction of Sandy spared Kew Gardens Hills and our electricity stayed on, the Jewish Heritage Center seized this opportunity to mobilize its own resources, with its students and alumni doing whatever they can to assist those in need. With many of their students and alumni living in the affected areas, the JHC has reached out, offering housing and assistance not only to their own students and alumni but to the general community as well. People were placed for Shabbos and when need-

markable testimony to the level of chesed and hachnasas orchim in our community.

Some of the ZA students were not previously aware of the work of the Jewish Heritage Center, which, under the direction of Rabbi Naftali Portnoy and Rabbi Moshe Turk, has built a reputation for being one of the most highly respected organizations in the kiruv world. After learning of the JHC’s mission, they realized that they are amongst people, who as one talmid put it, “practice what they preach.” After all, the JHC is the very embodiment of true outreach. They exemplify that they are there to help the affiliated and unaffiliated, reach out to them and bring them under their “wings.” Though the devastation of Sandy has shut down Zichron Aryeh’s building in Bayswater, the Jewish Heritage Center of Queens has allowed their learning to continue without interruption.

The staff members of the JHC say that they consider it not just their responsibility but their z’chus to be able to extend themselves to such a chashuva yeshiva such as Zichron Aryeh.

After power is restored to Bayswater, Zichron Aryeh plans to move back to its “Shabbos building.” While this is far from ideal, since the students will have to be split up in several places, at least the boys will have their dormitories and their belongings back, as two out of their three living quarters were unharmed. The longterm goal of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh, very much known for the close relationship between rebbe and student, is to build a new yeshiva it can call home, on property they had purchased in Bayswater. Baruch Hashem, this piece of land was spared by Sandy. In the meantime, while raising funds and acquiring building permit, Rabbi Cohen is hoping to rent trailers to use on the plot of land. The set-up costs, including the rental, moving and securing of such large, portable temporary housing is very expensive. Despite the possibility of a long wait until the building is finished, Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh remains loyal to its community of Bayswater, as the area is home to the yeshiva’s staff, kollel and alumni. It also offers more affordable housing to their excellent, dedicated rebbeim than other neighboring areas.

ed, for much longer periods of time. As in other shuls in our neighborhood, this past Shabbos, the JHC was completely overflowing with refugees joining their minyanim. At this time as in all times, visitors and guests joining the JHC are made to feel welcome and comfortable with warm greetings sincerely offered to all. Truthfully speaking, the JHC minyan has a reputation of being a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere in all types of weather. It is these characteristics (coupled with a very quiet davening) that have made it a favorite place to daven for so many local residents.

Despite the disruption in normalcy, the talmidim of Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh credit their positive outlook and understanding of the whole situation that Hurricane Sandy has put them in, to their Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Cohen. His philosophy of believing that everything happens for a reason, and that good will come from this, is spread throughout the yeshiva and into the hearts and minds of his students.

The appreciation that Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh has towards The Jewish Heritage Center as well as to the Kew Gardens Hills community knows no bounds. Perhaps Rabbi Shaya Cohen puts it best when he says that “‘Outreach’ to the Jewish Heritage Center is not just a word of fashion, but a word of passion.”

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The Jewish Heritage Center of Queens, located on Main Street, took in Yeshiva Zichron Aryeh after Hurricane Sandy destroyed its own building in Bayswater

Superstorm Sandy The Devastation

The massive Riis Park dumping site in Far Rockaway, Saturday, November 3rd, to which Department of Sanitation workers trucked tons and tons of debris from devastated areas in Broad Channel and Rockaway Peninsula

Debris piles up near the foundations of the historic Rockaway boardwalk in Queens after it was washed away during Superstorm Sandy

A man cleans up debris in Hurricane Sandy-devastated Breezy Point after a snowstorm blew through last Wednesday

A police car makes its way down flooded Rockaway Boulevard in Breezy Point November 4th to check on residents and help relay information to relief organizations

FDNY engine passes burned engine of Broad Channel volunteers on Cross Bay Boulevard, Tuesday, October 30th, in wake of Hurricane Sandy the night before

The popular Harbor Lights Pub in Rockaway Park exists no more following devastating fire during Hurricane Sandy, Monday, October 29th

Beach 130th Street and Newport Avenue in Queens looks like a war zone Monday, October, 30th in wake of fires and Hurricane Sandy

A car amidst a section of washed away boardwalk near the area of B.94 Street in Far Rockaway Monday, October 30th

A former homeowner in Belle Harbor tells Queens Borough President Helen Marshall Saturday, November 4th, how his home (background) burned to the ground during Hurricane Sandy’s deadly attack. “I’m currently living out of my car,” McDonald said, “but I’m alive.”

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Superstorm Sandy The Devastation

Surf rolls past a destroyed roller coaster wrecked by Superstorm Sandy in Seaside Heights, New Jersey

Residents walk past burned houses in Breezy Point, Queens, after it was devastated by Hurricane Sandy

Members of the FDNY search for stranded residents as they navigate through floodwaters in Staten Island on Tuesday, Oct. 30

People take photos at water filling the Bowling Green subway station in Battery Park on October 30

Cars float towards the top of an underground parking garage in Manhattan

The tail-end of a SUV is perched on top of a mailbox in the aftermath of floods from Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday, Oct. 30

Seawater floods the Ground Zero construction site, Monday, Oct. 29

ConEd trucks are submerged on 14th Street near the ConEd power plant, Monday, Oct. 29

Waters from Hurricane Sandy start to flood Beach Avenue in Cape May, New Jersey, on October 29 Photo credits: Getty Images, Reuters, AP

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Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity

Lending A Hand After Sandy

by Shira Frager

K

im Sentnor was with her parents and brother in Long Beach when water came pouring torrentially into her house, destroying everything in sight, from furniture to electronics to confidential files. Sentnor and her family swam up to the second floor of their 2-story apartment and waited with their neighbors for 24 hours, until the waters subsided.

The Sentnors were one of hundreds of families in the Five-Towns area drastically affected by Hurricane Sandy, which hit New York on Oct. 29 and destroyed schools, shuls, and homes.

Days following the hurricane, volunteers organized a community gathering to raise awareness and relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy living in the Far Rockaway and Lawrence area.

Achiezer, an organization established to help those in need of emergency relief, arranged the event in 24 hours, which resulted in over 80 attendees.

“We started planning it yesterday at 4 p.m.,” said organizer Ari Hoch, adding that they used email and announcements to publicize the event.

Hundreds of community members from Queens and other local areas filled the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. Attendees wrote out money donations to those affected by Sandy, and made their way into the shul area to hear prominent rabbonim and government officials share other ways to help victims of the disaster.

According to Rabbi Yechiel Kalish, the national director of Government Affairs of Agudath Israel in America, the organization raised a good chunk of finan-

Achiezer Founder and President Rabbi Boruch Bender

84

cial aid for those affected by the hurricane.

“We’ve raised over $50 thousand tonight,” he said. After a final calculation, however, volunteers concluded that Achiezer raised more than $100,000

Partial view of the large crowd

that night.

The program began with Rabbi Blumblach from Yeshiva Ben Yisroel and Chofetz Chaim reciting Chapters 121 of Tehillim and the pasuk of Acheinu. The congregation repeated these words of chizuk and stood solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

This was followed by speeches from Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of

Darchei Torah, Achiezer Founder and President Rabbi Boruch Bender, and Rabbi Kalish. New York State Assembly member Phillip Goldfeder also added a few words of acknowledgment towards the conclusion of the program.

Volunteers had created a list of items needed for various schools in the affected areas, which were distributed to attendees, asking for their assistance. In order to encourage audience members to help those in need, Yaakov Bender related the story of the Mishkan.

“When HaKodesh Baruch Hu asked for donations, everyone came and [Moshe] had to say, ‘Stop, we have enough.’”

Bender encouraged that we follow this behavior for the most recent disaster.

“When it comes to chessed and helping,” said Bender, “You don’t make calculations... you jump in and you do.”

He pleaded to listeners to exercise all their efforts in helping with the re-

New York State Assembly member Phillip Goldfeder, who has been instrumental in helping those affected by the storm

Rabbi Yechiel Kalish, national director of Government Affairs of Agudath Israel in America

Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Darchei Torah

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building of Jewish communities.

“We’ve collected close to $2 million already from neighborhoods, from the people who give,” said Bender. “We need at least 10 million to make a dent, to help these people.”

Speakers shared stories of people affected disastrously by the hurricane.

These included a Rebbetzin who lost her sheitel business, causing a major dent in her and her husband’s financial stability, and a family forced to live in their car, serving soup in the car to their children as dinner.

“It’s a very humbling experience,” said Bender.

One woman who attended said she went to gas stations with her 8-year-old daughter and handed out brownies to those waiting in the endless lines, with the option of donating to the Hurricane Sandy cause.

“There is need - part of it is that children don’t have an understanding of what’s going on. This is a way to drive it home,” said the woman.

According to Bender, Achiezer’s main concern is raising funds, more than clothes or food.

“We’ve been living now for eight days in the matzav [situation] of choshech [darkness], the matzav of people left with nothing,” he said. “These are stories we’ve heard about from people in South Florida, Bermuda, Texas, New Orleans. Suddenly, something not commonly seen in our neighborhoods, there’s such a matzav,” he said.

It’s very, very difficult to ask for help,” said Bender. This is why we need to be CONTINUED ON P. 85

November 15, 2012

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity No Words

by Simcha Schonfeld

and thousands of pages of shaimos. Four destroyed sifrei torah were removed earlier in the day, together with pairs of tefilin left behind by worshipers who clearly expected to daven shachris last Tuesday the same way they had on Monday. However, the entire massive library remained as did some taleisos, the pushka and seemingly stray atzei chaim. To me, it was not mere pages of books floating in the water, nor mere garments and shelves that absorbed the displaced sea; it was thousands of years of history and the sincere dedication of my co-religionists that were wandering aimlessly about in muck and filth. The destruction of this divine home was complete and the books bursting with tradition and history were now saturated with the stench of devastation, misery and grief.

Though the conversation was limited, the significance of the loss was clear to

us all. We spent hours wading through filth and fumes not merely to clean the home of people (that was done the previous night by many in attendance, though not by me) but to respect the home of a People. The purpose was to gather the shaimos and provide as respectful a disposal as possible under the trying circumstances. That goal was met. By night’s end, the walls lay bare and the toppled benches and broken chairs were alone in a large room that once housed sacred books but now could only lay witness to the devotion of its former inhabitants and the love shown by those who came after it lay in ruins.

As I passed a bag of waterlogged shofaros to the next person on the assembly line last evening, I was reminded of a profound thought of Rav Shniur Zalman of Lidai. In a long and majestic maamar, the Baal HaTanya explains that the shofar of Rosh Hashana represents the cry of the soul that continues where the power of words ends. Language is limited and its ability to convey raw emotion virtually non-existent. The soul however is limitless and can feel far more than words can ever express.

Last night my soul wept. But it did not weep alone. It wept together with those in attendance, with those who lost so much and with the millions of souls that have wept for millennia hoping and praying that their most recent pangs of anguish would be their last. Let’s hope this one truly is.

ber household, but he had volunteered to host these additional two people.

Rosenberg emphasized the impact others can have on victims by offering to help.

“If you look on Facebook you’ll find there are all kinds of opportunities,” he said.

To close the program, Assemblyman Goldfeder expressed his gratuity to the community for offering their services, and to the individuals who had spent full days and nights repairing the damage and reaching out to those in need.

He encouraged audience members to get further involved in the cause.

“We need a lot of help, not just in the form of a dollar,” he said. “Obviously that helps, but you never know - there’s an expertise, there’s something you can offer, there’s something that you can lend, there’s a way that you

can benefit all of our communities.”

“Write a check first, do everything else second because that’s what’s needed,” he said.

As for Sentnor, she and her family live by her aunt in the Bronx while they rebuild their lives. Sentnor, a college senior, lives part-time in Queens, where a portion of her belongings remain, unharmed by Sandy. She expressed appreciation to those who had and are continuing to reach out… It’s amazing how much clothing I got after losing, like, my whole wardrobe,” said Sentnor.

This is the purpose of Achiezer, its participants and volunteers.

Those who wish to make a donation towards Hurricane Sandy may write a check to Achiezer, 334 Central Ave, Lawrence, NY 11559, or make a payment online at www.achiezer.org.

I

t is not often that I am at a loss for words, but last night was one of those occasions.

Yesterday afternoon, a friend asked me to join him and others in Belle Harbor, New York to assist with the poststorm cleanup. We were called to action by a special organization called Chasdei Lev, whose acts of kindness merit an article in and of themselves. We were provided an address and were unsure at first whether it was a private home, institution or some other facility as we headed that way. As it turned out, we were dispatched to a shul that was destroyed by the merciless Sandy. Our trip through Belle Harbor was heartbreaking.

The streets looked more like beaches than thoroughfares. An angry Sandy and a furious sea moved all of the sand from the shores to the streets. Or so it seemed.

Every home was obstructed by a gigantic pile of everyday life on its lawn, waiting to be accompanied by the angels of sanitation to its final resting place. Walls, insulation, furniture, appliances, toys, computers and all of the staples of life as we know it could be found in these heaping mounds of loss, each representing years of work, effort and love wiped out by a brutal storm that showed no mercy.

But I was unprepared for what would greet us when we finally met our ultimate destination. Congregation Ohab

The destruction inside Congregation Ohab Tzedek in Belle Harbor Tzedek is housed in a mighty structure of stone and concrete. It has undoubtedly scoffed at Mother Nature’s fury on countless occasions in the past without even batting an eye. Surely Sandy could not bring this majestic House of the L-rd to its knees. Sadly, that is just what she did.

Entering the shul on the lower level was not easy. The water was still about two inches deep and the stench of spilled fuel and rotting wood made breathing an unpleasant adventure. Nevertheless I joined cold, wet and tired friends, acquaintances and total strangers in clearing out this real life churban baiys for hours into the unforgiving frigid night.

As I stood in the middle of the shul, maintaining my balance on planks that once supported seforim but now supported men, I was broken. The floor was covered in a thick soup of water, fuel

Lending A Hand After Sandy CONTINUED FROM P. 84

proactive and do whatever we can to help those affected by the hurricane.

Bender compared the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to the destruction of Sodom.

“In a sense I feel like the inverse of the Bnos Lot, the daughters of Lot, thinking that the whole world around them was gone,” he said. “Nobody [was] left except for themselves and their father. They lived in a bubble.”

Bender contrasted the behaviors of the daughters of Sodom to the local community. “We in Kew Gardens Hills are actually the inverse to that bubble,” he said.

Indeed, the Queens community has lent out a hand, and more. Rab-

bi Moshe Rosenberg of Etz Chaim in Queens brought a handful of members from his shul to volunteer at Queens College. Part of the campus is being used as a refugee facility for those who were affected by Sandy.

“They let us circulate, talk to people, see if we can fulfill needs,” said Rosenberg.

In seeking further opportunities to help on a more individual level, Rosenberg recalled hearing about a boy who has cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. After the storm, the boy and his mother had needed to find a place to stay that would provide heat, to satisfy the physical needs of the boy.

Rosenberg was already hosting a family affected by Sandy in his eight-mem-

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85

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity

Hurricane Sandy: A Wake Up Call?

by R’ Yehuda Oppenheiemer

M

uch has been, and will continue to be written, about the calamity that was Hurricane Sandy. Thousands rendered homeless, millions without power; an incalculable loss of money, possessions, and any sense of security; the full extent of the suffering is really beyond comprehension. Economists claim: “There has not been such devastation affecting so many participants in the US economy before.” That is to say, even when compared to the trauma of 9/11. Although there was far more loss of life at that awful time, the calamity did not directly injure as many people as Sandy has. For the American Orthodox Jewish community in particular, I am not aware of any incident that directly affected so many with serious hardship as this hurricane. In fact, as time goes on, it seems that the impact is growing, as the scope grows larger and larger.

How do we think about such a tragedy from a theological perspective?

What message is Hashem sending us with such a large megaphone?

Although I claim no special insight into His inscrutable ways, it would seem that Chapters 40 and 41 of Yeshayahu are particularly germane. (I was drawn to looking at this section, in part, due to its being the Haftorah of both Parshat Lech Lecha, immediately before Sandy, and Bereishit, two weeks before.) My thanks to Rav Yaakov Shulman of Brooklyn for pointing this out.

Chapter 40 begins with the famous words:

‫עַמּי נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ אֱ הֵ יכֶם‬ ִ ‫יֹאמַ ר‬ “Comfort ye, comfort ye My people,” says your G-d

With these words we begin the seven weeks of consolation that lead from the depths of Tisha B’Av to the heights of Rosh Hashana. In the ensuing verses the prophet describes the Almighty as being far beyond the plans of mortal man, as He arranges for the time that Jerusalem and Zion will be restored to their proper place of world prominence, inhabited once again by His beloved people.

Gently, with great love, the great shepherd will come and gather up his lambs from the clutches of their enemies. For after all, He is so much greater than any of his creatures, who are like a drop from a bucket; mere dust before Him. All will

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know that:

the cement, “It is good,” and he strengthened it with nails that it should not move

‫כָּל הַ גּוֹיִם ְּאַיִן נֶגְדּ ֹו מֵ אֶ פֶס וָ תֹהוּ נ ְֶח ְשׁבוּ ל ֹו‬ All the nations are as naught before Him; as things of no value are they regarded by Him

The prophet surveys all human activity, all the artisans, the princes, all those who think they have their own power, and:

‫כַּקּשׁ ִתּ ָשּׂאֵ ם גַם‬ ַ ‫עָרה‬ ָ ‫וּס‬ ְ ּ‫ָנשַׁף בָּהֶ ם וַ יִּבָשׁו‬ He blew on them, and they dried up, and a storm shall carry them away like straw

If we would only:

They build, they fortify, build with nails and cement, they think themselves impervious to G-d’s power; that the work of their craftsmen will be able to withstand whatever the Almighty has in store.

After first reassuring His people that they will survive all that will transpire:

‫אַל ִתּ ָירא כִּ י עִ ְמּ אָנִי אַל ִתּ ְשׁ ָתּע כִּ י אֲ נִי‬ ‫ֲזַר ִתּי אַף ְתּמַ כְ ִתּי‬ ְ ‫אֱ הֶ י ִאמַּ ְצ ִתּי אַף ע‬ ‫ימין ִצ ְד ִקי‬ ִ ִ‫בּ‬ Do not fear for I am with you; be not discouraged for I am your G-d: I encouraged you, I also helped you, I also supported you with My righteous hand

‫בָרא אֵ לֶּה‬ ָ ‫ְשׂאוּ מָ רוֹם עֵינֵיכֶם ְוּראוּ ִמי‬ Lift up your eyes on high and see, who created these

we would know that:

‫וְ ק ֹוֵי הֹ‘ יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ ַיעֲלוּ אֵ בֶר כַּ נּ ְָשׁ ִרים יָרוּצוּ‬ ‫וְ א יִיגָעוּ יֵלְכוּ וְ א יִיעָפוּ‬ But those who put their hope in the L-rd shall renew [their] vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not tire and thus have the power to face all that life can throw at us, confident that He will grant us strength and the capacity to deal with all adversity.

Actually, this was Hashem’s plan from time immemorial:

‫עָשׂה ק ֵֹרא הַ דֹּרוֹת מֵ רֹאשׁ אֲ נִי יְ הֹוָה‬ ָ ְ‫ִמי פָעַל ו‬ ‫ִראשׁוֹן וְ אֶ ת אַחֲ ֹרנִים אֲ נִי הוּא‬ Who calls the generations from the beginning; I, the L-rd, am first, and with the last ones I am He.

The islands (Bahamas? Cuba?) first will see and fear, then the areas that are on the end of land (seacoast? Jersey shore?) will be terrified:

‫ֶחֱרדוּ ָק ְרבוּ‬ ָ ‫אָרץ י‬ ֶ ָ‫יִיראוּ ְקצוֹת ה‬ ָ ְ‫ָראוּ ִאיִּים ו‬ ‫וַ יֶּאֱתָ יוּן‬ The islands shall see and fear; the ends of the earth shall tremble; they have approached and come

Some will think themselves mightier than the storm; they are not mightier than G-d’s word; they feel that their works can hold Him back:

‫פַּטּישׁ אֶ ת‬ ִ ‫וַיְחַ זֵּק חָ ָרשׁ אֶ ת צ ֵֹרף מַ חֲלִיק‬ ‫ה ֹולֶם פָּעַם אֹמֵ ר ל ֶַדּבֶק טוֹב הוּא וַיְחַ זְּ ֵקהוּ‬ ‫בְ מַ ְס ְמ ִרים א יִמּוֹט‬ And the craftsman strengthened the smith, the one who smooths with the hammer [strengthened] the one who wields the sledge hammer; he says of

He tells those that oppose Him that:

‫עָרה ָתּפִ יץ אֹתָ ם‬ ָ ‫וּס‬ ְ ‫ִתּזְ ֵרם וְ רוּחַ ִתּ ָשּׂאֵ ם‬ ‫יִשׂ ָראֵ ל ִתּ ְתהַ לָּל‬ ְ ‫ה בִּ ְקדוֹשׁ‬ ֹ ַ‫וְ אַ ָתּה ָתּגִיל בּ‬ You shall winnow them, and a wind shall carry them off, and a great storm shall scatter them, and you shall rejoice with the L-rd, with the Holy One of Israel shall you praise yourself

And though that great wind will cause tremendous destruction, which will lead to widespread hardship and the demolition of His enemies, Israel is called upon not to have fear:

‫זֶרע‬ ַ ‫אֲשׁר בְּ חַ ְר ִתּי‬ ֶ ‫יִשׂ ָראֵ ל עַבְ ִדּי ַי ֲעקֹב‬ ְ ‫וְ אַ ָתּה‬ ‫אַבְ ָרהָ ם אֹהֲבִ י‬ But you, Israel My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, who loved Me,

Those that oppose Hashem will be gone:

‫יִהיוּ כְ אַיִן‬ ְ ָ‫ֶחֱרים בּ‬ ִ ‫הֵ ן ֵיבֹשׁוּ וְ יִכָּלְמוּ כֹּל הַ נּ‬ ֶ‫וְ יֹאבְ דוּ אַנ ְֵשׁי ִריב‬ Behold all those incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded; those who quarreled with you shall disappear and be lost

As the chapter ends:

‫הֵ ן ֻכּלָּם אָוֶן אֶ פֶס מַ ע ֲֵשׂיהֶ ם רוּחַ וָ תֹהוּ‬ ‫נ ְִסכֵּיהֶ ם‬ Behold them all, their deeds are naught, of no substance; wind and nothingness are their molten images

Thus, in brief, the prophet warns later generations that a time will come before

the end of days when, primarily through the power of wind, G-d will show once and for all, that man’s arrogance, as expressed through the objects and structures he builds, strengthened or not with cement and nails, are no match for the Almighty when he allows his wind to blow.

Again, one hesitates before suggesting what lessons we are being taught.

Some are suggesting that in keeping with the theme of Parshat Lech Lecha, rather than rebuilding ruined homes here, it is time to take the insurance money and head, finally, to Eretz Yisrael. While I agree with the sentiment, and feel that in general all of us need to ask ourselves constantly whether we are justified in not taking advantage of the blessed opportunity our generation has been given to move to our true home, I recognize that this might not be the answer for everyone at this time.

And so, we rebuild here in the USA. But as we rebuild, perhaps we ought to reflect. Do we really need to build the types of mansions that so many Orthodox Jews have built themselves? With the “tuition crisis” and the struggles facing so many worthy institutions, with the many people struggling to keep up with the demands being made for shuidduch “necessities” and the economic crisis in Eretz Yisrael, is it not time to perhaps rethink some of our priorities? Are we really going to rebuild as if we are staying in the Five Towns and Seagate and Belle Harbor for the next hundreds of years? Is it not obscene that, as I heard just the other day, an Orthodox synagogue in Manhattan is completing a new building that will cost close to $50 million? Has “Next Year in Jerusalem” been reduced to nothing more than an advertising campaign for tour operators who bring crowds for the holidays who have absolutely no interest in staying? Have we not lost our minds?

Let us fervently hope and pray that all the suffering should end, that everyone is restored to their homes in safety and blessing, and that the losses, financial or otherwise, be restored and then some.

But let us not forget this wake up call, and think again about the momentous hour in which we have been given it.

Rabbi Yehuda L. Oppenheimer is the Rav of the Young Israel of Forest Hills.

He has a background in Jewish outreach, as well as in Engineering and Law. Before coming to Queens he was the Rav of a growing community in Portland, OR, for ten years, and lived extensively in Israel as well.

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November 15, 2012

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity Music From The Heart

Kumsitz Of Achdus Held In KGH For Storm Victims

by Susie Garber

O

ur community wanted to do something to help raise the spirits of those most affected by Hurricane Sandy. A beautiful kumsitz took place on Motza’ei Shabbos Parshas Vayeira in honor of all our guests from The Five Towns, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Teaneck, Belle Harbor, Bayswater, and other affected areas. The singing like a prayer uplifted everyone’s spirits and brought everyone closer together. Natan Wolf, Menachem Moscowitz, and Rabbi Chaim Chait strummed a heartfelt guitar accompaniment. When they sang, “All the World Is a Narrow Bridge,” the audience swayed and joined in the lyrics, “The most important thing is to have no fear at all.”

As the lights dimmed, Rabbi Chait strummed his guitar as he shared something that happened to him during the hurricane. He said that so many people were calling for help during the storm. Achiezer did whatever it could and continues to offer assistance to

those in need of help. At one point, a divorced single mother with children called, desperate for help. Rabbi Chait and two other men hurried over to her

flooded house and rescued the family. Rabbi Chait’s voice broke at this point in the story. She told him that on Monday night she dreamed that three bearded men, who were really the three mal’achim of Parshas Vayeira, would come and save them.

Mr. Aaron Friedler, who grew up in Kew Gardens Hills and now lives in Far Rockaway, shared his harrowing tale.

He stated how comforting it was for him to see current neighbors safe after taking shelter in Kew Gardens Hills, and also how happy he was to see people he knew from childhood. He related how the water was rising and rising.

Mr. Friedler’s family had stayed, mistakenly thinking it would be safe. At one point he heard a gurgling noise in the basement and realized it was water leaking in. He learned water can even penetrate shut doors. The electricity shut off and the water was knee deep.

Then there were two words he learned to hate: “high tide.” At around 8-9 p.m. on Monday night of the hurricane, the

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water reached the second step in his house. Mr. Friedler described the devastation he saw the next morning, touring the neighborhood. Businesses were destroyed. Utter devastation is an understatement, he said. It was strange for him to come to Kew Gardens Hills and to see everything was normal while Far Rockaway and the Five Towns felt like another world. He ended with the hope to return home soon and that “Hashem should help us. He should help acheinu B’nei Yisrael to get back on their feet.”

Many generous donations were collected for the Achiezer Hurricane Fund.

Achiezer is a Five Towns chesed organization providing relief for those in need.

To donate, you can call 516-791-4444 or visit the Achiezer website at achiezer. org/donate

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Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity

Bayswater Community Unites In Hurricane Aftermath

by Shelley Zeitlin

E

ven before the arrival of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, the Bayswater community was transforming itself into a mammoth community relief center. Moments after the winds and water receded, a rescue effort spearheaded by community leaders was launched that brought life-saving relief to hundreds of flooded and devastated households. Now, a fully orchestrated relief operation is providing shelter, food and clothing to hundreds of families in Bayswater and beyond. Additionally, a local neighborhood group watch blossomed into a multi-neighborhood security patrol, an anti-looting protection group combining local patrol cars, security companies and local police.

LIPA might be out in the Bayswater community but the power emanating is palpable, powered not by electricity (and

even the hundreds of generators) but by perseverance and dedication – all so far, without funding.

People working and receiving services at 2716 Healy Avenue portray an atmosphere of vibrancy and a beehive of creative support. The facility, under normal circumstances, is the Young Israel of Wavecrest & Bayswater, and houses the Young Israel Senior League. It is now a fully operational hurricane relief center.

Servicing hundreds of families that seek assistance during this desperate time, the center is offering a myriad of on-site services including serving hot meals, a food pantry, clothing distribution, laundry services, crisis intervention and security patrol services.

An all-volunteer army, people are running emergency hotlines dispatching rescue and repair crews to assist with pumping floodwater, removing debris, and hooking up generators. Heated

shelters have been created for people to sleep at night.

Without electric power, security is a major concern. A neighborhood watch team of over 75 volunteer patrolmen as well as hired off-duty police officers have been keeping Bayswater and beyond safe. The assistance does not stop in the neighborhood of Bayswater. Crews have been sent out for rescue and recovery efforts in the surrounding neighborhoods of Long Beach and Belle Harbor as well.

This remarkable effort is not run by an organization. Volunteers - people of action - are working around the clock to help those in their community and in the neighboring communities. When others evacuated, those who stayed ran to help. So that others can sleep soundly, an all-volunteer army barely stops to sleep. Hundreds of hot meals are being served daily, generators are being purchased and electricians are hooking

them up, new clothing is being distributed, and gasoline is offered to those driving in the patrols.

To continue this truly life sustaining work by a truly grassroots multiethnic and multicultural group, funds are badly needed. Visit www.yiwb.org and click the ‘donate’ button on the lower right hand side. Every penny of all donations for The Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund made through www.yiwb.org will be used to help others. Donations by credit card can be called in by phone to (718) 327-8606 or by mail to 2716 Healy Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691.

The Bayswater community has created a truly grassroots, multi-cultural effort. They are doing all they can to support people during this critical time.

Their continued devotion and results with the relief are inspiring. I wish them much success with this undertaking and the rebuilding of their community.

Madreigas HaAdam Brings Warmth And Light In Dark Times

by Susie Garber

T

he bachurim of Yeshiva Madreigas HaAdam wanted to help those affected most by the hurricane in a tangible way. They considered it a privilege to help families in Queens who were without power or felt isolated by the hurricane. Rabbi Moshe Faskowitz (Rosh HaYeshiva), Rav Avraham Berman (Menahel of the Yeshiva), Rabbi Moshe Konigsberg (rebbe in the Yeshiva), and Rabbi Avi Faskowitz (Executive Director) and all the wives launched a two-fold cam-

88

paign that created a tremendous kiddush Hashem for the community. The Hillcrest community, where the Yeshiva is located, was relatively unaffected by the storm, although some people lost power. The bachurim wanted to do something to make sure everyone in Hillcrest who did not have power before Shabbos would have hot meals and a warm place to go.

Meadow Park Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Aaron’s Kissena Farms, Meal Mart, and A&A Gourmet all donated enough food for two Shabbos seudos. The beis midrash was converted to a make-

shift dining room to accommodate the extra guests. Z’miros, delicious food, and divrei Torah created an atmosphere of warmth that enveloped the beis midrash.

The second campaign involved calling Achiezer and starting a Gemach for those who lost so much during this storm.

The Gemach donations include cash, clothing, sefarim, books, and many other items. The bachurim placed flyers at stores and sent out e-mails to publicize these two important programs. People called the Yeshiva directly for help if they were unable to get through to Achiezer.

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Two large shuls in Hillcrest did not regain power on Shabbos, so davening at the Yeshiva included many extra guests from the other shuls. The shul also set up a large kiddush to help the extra guests feel welcome. The Yeshiva took in stranded bachurim from Long Island and Far Rockaway as well.

The Rosh HaYeshiva commented, “In the darkest time the smallest light shines big.”

To donate, to host displaced families, or for help, please call 718-969-7437 (the Yeshiva) or 718-704-9945.

November 15, 2012

Superstorm Sandy From Havoc Comes Humanity

A Few Thoughts On Hurricane Sandy

by Warren Hecht

O

n Sunday, October 28, 2012 the early stages of Hurricane Sandy were reaching the New York City area. I decided to ride my bike on the boardwalk on Rockaway Beach. Although it was early in the morning, the wind was strong and the surf was higher than I had ever seen it.

There were a few people who were filling up sandbags and a backhoe was moving sand. However, there were more people who were enjoying the higher surf either by surfing or by watching the waves or the surfers. Everything seemed normal. There was no sense of urgency; everyone, including myself, was thinking that storms just come and go and the boardwalk remains unchanged.

This is how we go through life. We are warned about what will happen if we do not

do what is strongly recommended by the experts, and yet we are in denial about the reality. We go along our merry way pretending that everything will remain the same and nothing will happen to us.

Despite those who believe that an overturned garbage can and some uprooted trees are considered being hit hard by the hurricane, Kew Gardens Hills, in fact, suffered minimal damage.

The damage and devastation suffered in areas such as Far Rockaway, the Five Towns and Breezy Point is well known. There are some other areas where the damage is less reported such as in Oceanside, Great Neck and Bayswater. One cannot appreciate the extent of the destruction unless one makes a personal visit. On Sunday, November 4, I went back to the same area.

The boardwalk was gone. A 50-foot piece of the boardwalk was flung 60 feet away

resting against a side of a building. The sidewalk was full of contents of people’s houses that had been ruined. In addition, there was no power.

The response to the storm has brought out the best in the Jewish community and the community at large. The outpouring of support, including financial, volunteering, donations of goods and opening homes to the displaced individuals is heartwarming and shows what can be accomplished when people work together. Even the president and the Governor of New Jersey were working together a few days before the election. Unfortunately, while many people have united to help the hurricane’s victims, there have been reports of people taking advantage of the lack of security. Looting,

home break-ins, gas gauging, and fights on gas lines have been rampant across all of New York.

Right now we still hear about the hurricane so it is on our mind. However, when the media goes on to other stories and we have other things to deal with, it is important not to forget the plight of those whose homes were damaged or who no longer have a place to go to. They will still be suffering and will continue to need our support.

Last year we had a snowstorm in October and many people thought that if it snows so early in October, then there will many storms in the winter. That did not happen.

Let’s hope that Hurricane Sandy will be the last major storm for this fall and winter.

Warren S. Hecht is President of the Queens Jewish Community Council and a local attorney. He can be reached at whecht@qjjc.org.

Observations On Hurricane Sandy

by R’ Dovid Winiarz

S

o much has occurred this past few weeks; I hardly know where to begin.

In my position as president of Survival Through Education and the OZ behind the curtain in my role as the Facebuker Rebbe, I feel an obligation, albeit a privilege as well, to share my impressions with you about the recent events brought on by Hurricane Sandy. What follows are my opinions and, while firmly based in Torah philosophy, there may be those who think differently than I do. My goal is not to offend but, rather, to enlighten. I respect your right to choose to believe differently but my thoughts are offered unapologetically and with much love.

Why us?

Indeed, the questions are many but the shortest and easiest to pronounce is “Why?” From a Torah perspective, the easiest answer is a simple, “why not?”

G-d is perfect. On the assumption that you believe G-d exists and still plays an active role in our lives, He has the ultimate authority to do as He pleases. He sees our lives as a chess master sees the board with the added benefit of knowing the outcome of the game because He is, and was, beyond time.

Are we expected to throw in the towel, therefore, and not try to understand why what happens, happens? Chazal/ our leaders from previous generations

and rabbinic leaders of today teach that, when tragedy strikes, we are to examine our deeds. To what standard do we examine our deeds? In Judaism, there is only one standard. The Torah standard is the great equalizer. The Torah (according to all rational thinkers – including over 2 billion Christians and Muslims) was given to the Jewish people all together at the foot of Mount Sinai. It has promises in there that no human(s) could ever have made because future history would have proven them false had they been wrong. To that end, even if people choose not to observe the Torah and its laws, the thinking person will accept that that simply makes them “less observant.” The Torah is perfect; it came from G-d. When we are hit with a Hurricane Sandy, we should examine our deeds (or misdeeds) according to the instruction Manual.

What does the Manual say? The Torah teaches us to emulate G-d. In last week’s Torah, reading G-d visited the patriarch Abraham. Do we care enough for the sick and infirm or do we rely on big government to do it for us? Hurricanes and other “natural disasters” bring out the g-dliness in us.

We can avoid G-d’s reminders to be like Him by simply being like Him first.

The Torah teaches that a rainbow is a symbol of the Bris/covenant that G-d made between Himself and Noach that He would never destroy the world by flood. The rainbow was given to us

with instructions that we should never gaze directly at the rainbow because it is G-ds way of saying, “you deserve to be destroyed collectively but I am holding back because of my promise.” Why did G-d bring the first flood (and possibly Hurricane Sandy)? The entire world was corrupt in those days. Thievery was the normal modus operandi. Are we honest in business? Do we treat each other properly or do we look for every excuse to rip the other person off? Are we honest when we file with Uncle Sam or do we lie and cheat there, as well? Honesty and good will tend to rise to the top, like cream, after a super storm that leaves people homeless and, in some cases, hopeless. We humans were created in G-d’s image but we forget that we can avoid tsunamis and such when we let that G-dliness shine through.

We are not punished because we are bad people. We are punished because we are good and G-d wants us to be great. Most people do not give as much attention to the homeless as they do their own children. That is natural. A person will spend more time, with more scrutiny, focusing on those they care about. Mother Nature is a figment of people’s imagination. People blame Mother Nature for things to avoid having to take responsibility for things that they would have to if they acknowledged that G-d did it. G-d is Mother Nature. Mother Nature is G-d.

When Mother Nature speaks to us, it

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behooves us to listen because G-d only wants what is best for us.

People speak of compassionate conservatives and caring liberals. When disaster strikes labels fall away. This week I got an email from every big bank I owe money to (and there are many) stating that fees would be waived and cooperation extended to victims of Hurricane Sandy. I got phone calls from liberal organizations that otherwise shun me begging me to accept their aid packages because I live in Staten Island. I couldn’t get through to them that I was not in need but I would pass on the goodness. Everybody helps everybody so much that, if this would be a regular occurrence, there would be no need for government handouts or G-d to send messages like Hurricane Sandy.

I think what I took out of the past few weeks is best summed up with the recognition that G-d loves us so much that He is willing to turn off our power, emails, Facebook and cell phones just to whisper in our ear. At the same time, we need to remember that we are not punished because we are bad people; we are punished because we are good and G-d wants us to be great. If we do not heed that lesson than G-d will not whisper in our ear; He will roar the message, loud and clear.

The lesson of Sandy should not be one we learn and forget.

It is one, from the One, who wants us to remember.

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As I See It

by Cynthia Zalisky

D

Hurricane Sandy: Lessons In Hakoras Hatov And Chessed

isasters like Hurricane Sandy bring out the best and worst in us. On the positive side, we saw (and continue to see) tremendous outpouring of generosity and volunteerism. So many people donated blankets, clothing, water and prepared food to those directly affected by the storm. In fact, so much clothing has been collected in Staten Island that the authorities had to turn away those still coming forward to contribute. The selfless acts of kindness exhibited were amazing. I read of two individuals who came in from Chicago with their fast food truck just to prepare hamburgers and franks for the victims on the South Shore. They cooked 2,000 meals in one day for free. They didn’t know anyone in the area but came to help because it was the right thing to do. There is another story of two volunteers who helped an elder-

ly lady evacuate her apartment by carrying her down twelve flights of stairs in her wheelchair. Hundreds of marathoners without a race, after New York

of those in distress during this crisis, has been heartwarming. People criticize New Yorkers as being brash and pushy. That might be true at times; but

Two individuals came in from Chicago with their fast food truck just to prepare hamburgers and franks for victims on the South Shore. They cooked 2,000 meals in one day for free City finally came to its senses and canceled the run, jogged through Staten Island with backpacks full of supplies to donate. Many companies are providing necessary funds to the Red Cross and other relief agencies and offering free workspaces. Restaurants are giving away free food. The response of thousands of individuals, who are giving of their time and efforts coming to the aid

even though we are a tough bunch, our hearts are in the right place.

I remember learning in anthropology class that human beings would have never survived through the ages without learning to share food and resources with each other. I don’t know if that is accurate, but it is definitely the Jewish way. Efforts from our community have been exemplary. Met Council and UJA-Federation spearheaded a campaign to provide kosher emergency cooked meals and Shabbos packages, water, supplies and essential services, including emergency benefits, to the areas that experienced power outages and flooded property all over New York, especially in the Rockaways, Southern Brooklyn, Queens and Lower Manhattan. A few highlights of this initiative included having 5,000 hot meals, water and fresh fruit hand-delivered by more than 100 volunteers. More than 100 senior residents from Seagate were evacuated and given emergency shelter with options for temporary housing at Met Council’s Canarsie residence. Generators were made available to several synagogues in the affected areas and supplementary security was provided on the Rockaways over Shabbos. QJCC has been working with Met Council in this herculean effort.

Baruch Hashem, our area came out of this pretty much unscathed. We did have tree damage and some telephone lines are down; but most of us have electricity and homes intact. For many of us, the worst of it was experiencing long lines at the pump, bringing back horrible flashbacks of 1970s, when we had to wait in line for hours on end for gasoline. Those much younger have never experienced this kind of frustration and anxiety until now. With all that said, we must have “hakoras hatov” to Hashem for being spared the brunt of this storm. It is a time to reflect on our blessings and not to take them for granted. This Sunday, November 18, QJCC will be coordinating sever-

al programs in conjunction with “The Global Day of Jewish Learning.” This year’s theme, believe it or not, is “hakoras hatov.” Let’s take advantage of this and participate in one or more of these lectures and study experiences. A full listing of events can be found in an ad in this paper. Learning Torah and showing our gratitude to Hashem is the perfect response to the recent calamity.

But all the wonderful things that have been done to help the victims of the storm are, unfortunately, just bandages on bleeding wounds; now starts the real work. So many people have had their homes damaged from this disaster, whether by the tidal surge or by trees falling on their houses. There are others who will not be able to go back to their rented apartments and need new places to live. Many have lost all their belongings and have only the clothes on their backs with limited means to restart their lives without help. It will take some time and a concerted public response, but if we all pitch in, everyone will be taken care of and life will return to some normalcy soon.

With all the good exhibited as a result of the hurricane, some ugliness has raised its head, as well. There have been many cases of looting property and businesses, cutting into the gas lines (one man flashed a gun at a filling station) and simple greed by taking advantage of this tragic situation.

But I think (at least I want to believe) that these incidents are in the minority. Most people have risen to the occasion to help because each of us is responsible for one another.

This act of G-d should send a strong message for Jews to respond to this crisis with the Torah values of tzedaka, chessed and compassion.

Let us unite in strengthening our resolve to help those affected by this disaster. If any of our readers is aware of a person/family who needs help due to Sandy, please contact me at QJCC - 718544-9033 or by e-mail at czalisky@qjcc. org. Our social service professionals will do everything possible to ameliorate the situation.

Those wishing to donate funds to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy can send checks to QJCC 119-45 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills, NY 11375 or by email to www.qjcc.org. Please earmark the donation for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. Tisku Limitzvos.

Cynthia Zalisky is the Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community. She can be contacted at czalisky@qjc.org

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November 15, 2012

Kosherfest Showcases New Kosher Food Products That Will Win Over Your Pallet

by Esti Berkowitz

I

have gone to Kosherfest for the last few years and I always come back hungry! It’s always so nice to see the new products from well-known kosher food brands like Manischewitz. Manischewitz’s exciting new products use all-natural ingredients, are low fat, have no

MSG, and are always available in a “reduced sodium” option. For those with gluten sensitivity, Manischewitz offers a wide range of gluten-free options too!

Speaking of new, Manischewitz has a new Chanukah cookie and house decorating kit!

Something else that I look forward to every year is the Kosherfest New Product

Competition. This year, the Best in Show went to the “Chocolate Peanut Butter Gelato” made with soymilk, produced

by Gelato Petrini of Delray, Florida. This product also won in the Desserts, Baked Goods, and Sweet Snacks category.

Winners were crowned in 16 categories plus Best in Show, and were entered by companies from Brooklyn to Paris, France. Entries were judged on such criteria as uniqueness, quality, presentation, taste, pricing and salability.

Among the winners were Oxygen Amazon Chipotle Sauce (Dips, Spreads and Salsa); Normans Cholov Yisroel Dairy Delight Greek Yogurt (Cheese or Dairy); Ta’amti Pizza Pinwheels (Frozen Entrees); Simply Protein Chips (Savory & Salty Snack Foods); Torie And Howard Organic Candies (Candy); and the Royal Challettes Silicone Bakeware Pan (Giftware & Novelties). Jack’s Gourmet LLC won two categories: Best New Deli Meat for their Italian-Style Salami, and Best New Meat/Seafood/Poultry for their “Facon”.

All winners will be displayed in the New Products Showcase at the upcoming Kosherfest show.

Thinking of this amount of food when so many have suffered tremendous loss from Hurricane Sandy was top of mind for Diversified Business Communications, producers of Kosherfest. They have decided to donate $5,000 to orga-

nizations providing relief to victims of Sandy in the Tri-State area. In addition, the more than 325 Kosherfest exhibitors from around the world have pledged to donate food at the end of the event to City Harvest and the Met Council, continuing a long-standing tradition for Kosherfest exhibitors. Since 2008, Kosherfest exhibitors have donated more than 56,000 pounds of food at the end of the annual event, to both community food programs.

According to Bill Springer, Group Vice President, Diversified Business Communications, and show producer for Kosherfest, “Watching the damage and impact caused by the storm to millions was very painful. We can only imagine how hard it must be living through it. Our thoughts and prayers are with those located within the storm zone, and anyone dealing with the hardships caused by the storm. We hope that our donation will help bring some comfort and relief to those in need.”

Kosherfest (www.kosherfest.com), now in its 24th year, is the world’s largest kosher food, and beverage trade show serving the retail and foodservice industries.

The show, which is open to the trade only, attracted more than 6,000 professional attendees from all over the world, and showcased thousands of kosher products from more than 20 countries.

Esti Berkowitz blogs about how she found kosher food, a husband, and had kids after 35 at primetimeparenting.com. Esti co-founded TrumpetingMedia.com, a social media events company and also writes about traveling as a kosher family at travelingmom.com.

T

his article is devoted to expressing appreciation and gratitude to the aides and staff at Caring Professionals Home Care Agency for their work and selfless dedication above and beyond the call of duty during the recent devastating storm.

It is well known that the ferocity of the storm left many people isolated. Not only did they not have the comforts they were used to, but even the basic necessities of life were hard to come by. In addition to this, the storm took an emotional toll on people from all walks of life. In particular, the elderly population is more vulnerable to change and the emotional trauma of danger and isolation requires extra care and sensitivity to meet their needs.

The community is indebted to the staff and particularly the Home Health Aides at Caring Professionals who extended themselves and even helped people who were not under their care.

Without getting too much into the

Modern Heroes Of Today personal details of the aides’ lives, we would like to describe some of the outstanding and even heroic efforts that helped make the lives of the elderly in the community survivable.

The following describe a few of the

all know, the means of transportation that we all take for granted were shut down. As the aide tried one idea after another, she began to realize that there wasn’t any way to reach her patient without walking. Her patient

The aide went up and down the dark stairwell to bring water, food and other necessities. What makes this remarkable is the fact that the patient lives on the twentieth floor and the aide repeated this trip for seven days great efforts that were made. One of the aides has two little children of her own. When she heard about the storm, she made arrangements to have her children cared for by family and friends so that she could stay longer beyond her normal hours with her patient and be a source of comfort and safety.

Another one of the aides tried to get to her patient’s home. But, as we

lives three miles away. Instead of using this as an excuse, the aide walked three miles so that her patient would not be alone. It is not known if the patient was even aware of this, but the aides took their responsibilities seriously and watched out for the welfare of their patients.

A third story is about an aide who works in the JASA building at 125 Seagirt Blvd in Far Rockaway. The

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JASA buildings are very high apartment buildings near the water, right off the beach. The elderly population in these buildings have no other place to go. Electric power was lost early before it got dark inside. Obviously when that happens, there is no elevator and the building is dark. Considering the needs of the patient, the aide went up and down the dark stairwell to bring water and food and other necessities. What makes this remarkable is the fact that the patient lives on the twentieth floor and the aide repeated this trip for seven days.

These are only some examples of the care and professionalism that these heroic caregivers showed in these difficult circumstances. We hope to highlight some more of these wonderful efforts in our next article. Most importantly, we want to express our admiration and appreciation to the selfless caregivers and tell them that they make us feel proud and grateful for all their hard work and concern.

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The Informed Woman

Fashion Myths Debunked

by Meira E. Schneider-Atik

I

n my neighborhood, women often recognize me as a “fashion person,” and they often compliment me on how I dress.

But then, they start apologizing for not looking as good as they can. They offer all kinds of excuses, valid though they may be.

All of these excuses are based on common myths about fashion and style. Sorry ladies, but from me, you get the truth.

Myth: You have to dress up all the time to look good Truth: Casual clothes can look just as good as dressy clothes. It’s about making sure that all your clothes fit you and flatter you properly. Casual =/= sloppy. For example, you can wear a big wide skirt and look big and wide, or you can wear a fitted A-line denim skirt and look casually great.

It’s not unusual for young mothers to buy into this myth.

After all, with babies and toddlers climbing all over you, you want to wear clothing that’s functional, washable, and easy.

As a young mother myself, I get this. But who says that your functional, washable, and easy clothes can’t look good? Comfortable, functional clothes can be fitted and flattering, and they

can also give you a lot of energy and make you feel good from the outside in.

Myth: You have to spend a lot of money to look good Truth: If this one were true, I wouldn’t be the one getting compliments on how I look. I don’t have a lot of money and I certainly cannot afford to spend a lot on clothes. And I really don’t like the idea of spending a lot of money on a “designer” piece just for the name. Moreover, I dislike logos, and I feel that if I’m going to advertise a designer by way of a logo, then that designer should be paying me. Having said that, what you really need to do is to not waste money on clothes that don’t make you look your best. All your clothes, no matter how much or how little they cost, must fit you, flatter you, be good quality, and be versatile. If not, you won’t get your money’s worth out of them.

Myth: You can’t wear anything too attractive because it isn’t appropriate for tzniut Truth: True tzniut involves looking attractive. The dress code gives us guidelines so that we don’t look attract-ing or provocative. Attract-ing is not a good look, even if the secular world seems to think it is. But attract-

ive is a good look, and it’s one step towards true tzniut.

Myth: Within tzniut, you have to look like everyone else Truth: This one is based on uniforms. Most girls’ yeshivot do have the girls in uniforms for a variety of valid reasons, which is why I won’t argue with them.

And many women do wear similar styles based on their community circles. However, true tzniut dictates that you need to dress in ways that reflect aspects of the real you. It’s okay to be inspired by what other women wear, but you have to stick with clothes that flatter your face and body and that suit your personal style.

Myth: It’s what’s on the inside that counts, so why bother?

Truth: Yes, the inside does count, but so does the outside.

Of course you want to focus on who you are and becoming a better person and coming closer to G-d, but taking care of your outside actually helps that process along. As stated above, true tzniut dictates that you dress in ways that reflect the real you, and the real you is not a sloppy shlump.

Myth: You need to be tall and thin to look good Truth:

Unfortunately, the

secular world has penetrated, and so we have young women getting eating disorders and young men demanding shidduchim only with women who are size 2. The truth is that your G-d-given body is the right body for you, whether you’re tall, petite, thin, plus-size, curvy, boyish, bottom-heavy, top-heavy, etc. The right clothes can flatter your body and face and make you look healthy and either active or relaxed (depending on the colors and styles). The wrong clothes will make you look unhealthy and matronly even if you’re tall and skinny.

It’s also important to remember that good health comes in all shapes and sizes. That line has become quite common for me, and I stand by it, especially since I’m healthy even though I don’t fit into the ideal. Among

other things, I’m not a size 2.

And I don’t look good in everything. The reason I get so many compliments is that I stick with what does make me look good.

Myth: Looking good is just too complicated with all the rules Truth: The only rules are these: • Cover yourself appropriately for tzniut.

• Dress to flatter your unique body type.

• Dress appropriately for the context.

• Dress to express your personal style.

None of the above is as complicated as it seems. It’s all doable.

And there you have it. The truth. No more excuses.

Let’s all take true tzniut and look our best all the time.

Meira E. Schneider-Atik is a wardrobe organizer and personal shopper. She helps women weed out their wardrobes, shop smartly, put together outfits, and save time, effort, and money, all within tzniut. Her writing on fashion and style within tzniut has been published both in print and online. She is also a jewelry designer and co-founder of RenaMei Jewelry-Designed Just for You. Her pieces can be seen on Facebook. She can be reached at (718) 6446135 or at MESAtik@gmail.com

In Tough Times: Look Good, Feel Better

by Risselle Naimark

less, but it will provide desperately needed hydration and at least give you a bit of coverage.

3. Concealer is a girl’s best friend. It will hide those under eye bags and skin blemishes from lack of sleep. (Skin is the last organ the body’s natural defenses care about when it’s under stress.)

4. Swipe on a cream blush, which you can dab on and blend without a mirror. It will bring life and color to your face.

5. Skip the mascara, which is too time-consuming. Instead, smudge some soft gray, brown or khaki eyeliner around lash-

H

istorical research shows that when the economy goes into a recession or depression, the sales of lipstick rises. The “Lipstick Effect” is a term coined after the Great Depression, when the sale of cosmetics rose in the four years from 1929 to 1933.

As the theory goes, glum consumers continue to spend on little luxuries, while undergoing emotional stress, to get back some of their spirits. This theory was proven once again in the months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., when lipstick purchases doubled.

The stress, trauma and economic pressures inflicted by Hurricane Sandy, coupled with sleepless nights, make it

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difficult to maintain a sense of normalcy. Taking a bit of time for yourself is especially important when times are tough.

Some exercise and a quick fix with some makeup will help you cope better. The way you look does affect your emotions.

Quick Fixes 1. Exfoliate your skin two to three times a week, while in the shower. This will remove dead skin cells, which make

es to define your eyes.

6. Skip the lipstick - who has time for precision? Instead, swipe on some tinted lip balm or lip-gloss, which can be applied without a mirror.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those that have suffered loss in the hurricane. May Hashem answer all our collective Tefilos Letovah.

If you would like to coordinate a free and fun “How-To” Makeup Class in the neighborhood for all our visitors from evacuated areas, please contact me through the Queens Jewish Link.

Risselle Naimark is Professional Freelance Makeup Artist skin look dull and dry, especially after sleepless nights.

2. Use a tinted moisturizer. It won’t make the skin look flaw-

who carries a full line of personalized skincare, cosmetics and anti- aging products. Risselle is also available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, makeup lessons, color analysis and all of your beauty needs. She can be reached at 718 263-5517.

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November 15, 2012

The Informed Woman

Dishes From Down Under Homemade Marshmallows

by Avi Jacobs

move from the heat.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

With a sieve, generously dust an 8 by 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners’

H

ave you noticed that marshmallows have gone gourmet? No longer do we have to content ourselves with those tasteless cylinder-shaped white blobs that come in a plastic bag. Oh, I know as kids we loved their spongy texture and sweet flavor. And who can deny how perfect they were for making rice crispy squares or S’mores. But for eating on their own, nothing compares to the sweet vanilla scented airiness of homemade marshmallows. You will find that once you start making your own there is no going back.

Prep time: 20 mins Cooking time: 10 mins Sets for: overnight Makes: 20 – 40 depending on size

Ingredients • 3 packages unflavored kosher gelatin • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 1 cup light corn syrup • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions Combine the kosher gelatin

and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to set while you make the syrup.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Re-

sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top, and dust with more confectioners’ sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.

Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares.

Dust them with more confectioners’ sugar. The marshmallows will keep in a cool dry airtight container for about two weeks.

A native Australian, Avi Jacobs studied hospitality and tourism in University before graduating with degrees in hospitality management and events management. Combining his studies, he has found a passion in creating events- from grand concepts down to the particular food types that suit the event. Having worked in events and hospitality and having the travel experience behind him allows Avi to keep varying his foods and offer different tastes and flavours. He enjoys creating and finding unique recipes that offer a different flavour and style, as well as creations that define something in particular, such as a culture, country, origin or style. Avi has worked with numerous catering companies offering his designs and concepts. He now runs an events coordinating business and truly enjoys working with the people and food that come with the job. Avi lives in Melbourne with his wife Rina and son Naftali.

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At long last there's a Jewish newspaper that serves the Queens Jewish community.

From Forest Hills to Kew Gardens Hills, from Kew Gardens to Jamaica Estates and beyond, if it impacts Queens Jewry, we keep you informed.

Plus columns that will inform, amuse and delight you and advertisers that are just around the corner.

Pick up your copy today!

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November 15, 2012

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November 15, 2012